WILLIAM S. SPURLOCK

1928 - 2017

WILLIAM S. (BILL) SPURLOCK, 88, of Huntington, passed away peacefully at Cabell Huntington Hospital on January 6, 2017, surrounded by his family. Daddy was born July 28, 1928, in the living room of his grandparents' home at 1914 Charleston Avenue, Huntington. Daddy attended Cabell County schools and was a 1946 graduate of Huntington East High School and a 1947 graduate of Huntington East Trade School. He worked as machinist for the C&O Railway Raceland Car Shop in Raceland, Ky. Daddy used to describe himself as a man of many trades and ideas. He was a U.S. Army National Guard veteran of the Korean War and was a member of American Legion Post #16, Huntington. He began a career in Real Estate when he was licensed in 1964. He worked for Roach-Ferguson Realty, until such time he joined AAA Reality and Homebuilders, where he was Sales Manager. In 1984 he opened his own business, Bill Spurlock Dodge, Inc., selling new Dodge cars and trucks along with service, parts, body shop and used vehicles. In 2009 he had to reorganize after Chrysler took the Dodge franchise, so he renamed his business to its current name: Bill Spurlock Auto Sales and Service Inc. He built his business up and was known for his integrity. Daddy was also known for his music. He played the clarinet in the Huntington East High Marching Band. When he was 16 years old, he bought a tenor saxophone and began playing with big dance bands. He played with Howard Jennings, Mel Gillespie and The Hi-Hatters. He loved playing the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Count Basie and Charlie Barnett, just to name a few. He was known around the Tri-State Area and The WV Belle River Boat Dance Cruises with his groups the Bill Spurlock Trio +1 and Bill Spurlock Orchestra. The last band that he was a member of was the River Cities Jazz Ensemble, where he was referred to as the oldest member of the sax section being 86 years young. Music was a hobby, however, playing music was his passion. Daddy was a lifetime member of The American Federation of Musicians Local 362-691, he was elected in 1983 to the office of Secretary-Treasurer and held this office until January 6, 2017. Daddy also had another hobby. He was known around the Little League Baseball Community where he coached Little League Baseball at League 4 (his team was Action Inc.) and also coached Babe Ruth Baseball at Central Babe Ruth for Heiner's Bakery. He also coached the League 4 All-Stars and the Central Babe Ruth All Stars. He loved coaching these young boys in baseball. Over the years, many of his former ball players would stop by his dealership to visit Coach and talk about the good times they had playing for him. They especially loved to bring up all of the old games of when they got beat or when they won, or when they hit their first homerun or always struck out. Dad remembered them all, and he had fun talking to the guys and revisiting those times. Dad was also the Assistant Commissioner of Babe Ruth Baseball which covered five states. He coached for the love of the game and for the love of those boys who played. Daddy was preceded in death by his parents, James (Jim) M. and Anna Lewis Spurlock; and his great-grandson, Wesley McGuffin. Those left to mourn his passing are his wife of 67 years, Gertrude Faulkner Spurlock; his daughters, Yvonne N. (Dana) Sargent and Amy Jo (Jim) Conley; and his son, Samuel L. (Christy) Spurlock, all of Huntington; his grandchildren, Sarah N. Spurlock of Huntington and Michael D. Stacy and Josh Reed of South Point Ohio, Nick, Abby "Queen" and Sarah Grace Conley, all of Huntington, Alex (Lindsey) Conley of Ona, Brad Maynard, Samantha and Owen Spurlock, all of Huntington, and Marc (Tessa) Maynard of Ironton, Ohio; great-grandsons and his namesakes, William "Willie" and Samuel "Sammy" McGuffin, both of Huntington; and great-great-granddaughter, Emily Ann McGuffin of Barboursville. Plus a host of family, cousins and friends from across the miles who dearly loved our Dad, and he loved them. The family would like to thank Dr. Eugenia Jarrell for the love, concern and care you gave to our Dad over the years. He not only thought of you as his doctor, but he thought of you as his friend. A big Thank You goes out to all the SICU nurses that gave our Dad excellent care. You were there for him and for us, his wish was your command, and for that we are forever grateful. For our cousin Matt (RN), thanks so much, don't be a stranger. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at Chapman's Mortuary, Huntington, with his cousin, Pastor Donald L. Hannah, officiating. Burial will be in Woodmere Memorial Park, Huntington, with military graveside rites by Veterans Honor Guard Post #16. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, January 9, 2017, at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.chapmans-mortuary.com.