William N. "Bill" Peck

William N. "Bill" Peck

William N. "Bill" Peck, aged 92, passed away in Springfield, Missouri, on Saturday, May 2, 2015. He was born April 5, 1923, in Cimarron, Kansas, to Wyatt N. and Marguerite A. Peck.

Bill grew up in Osawatomie, Kansas, and graduated from Osawatomie High School. During his high school years he worked at his father's newspaper, The Osawatomie Graphic News. He also joined Boy Scout Troop 103 and received his Eagle Scout award the January before his 16th birthday. Scouting had a great influence on the rest of his life. He received the Silver Beaver Award and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow.

Bill started classes at the University of Missouri-Columbia in September 1941. In May 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps. After training in Texas and Oklahoma, he graduated and, in 1944, received his wings and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He and his loyal crew, with whom he remained life-long friends, were assigned to the 425th Bomb Sqd., 308th Bomb Grp, 14th Air Force in the China-Berma-India theatre. Bill and his crew flew many bombing missions over "The Hump". He was officially separated from active duty in May 1946. Over the years, he remained in the Air Force Reserves and completed his 20 years of service, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1946 he returned to The University of Missouri and graduated June 6, 1948 with a bachelor of business degree. Four days later he married Barbara Jane Bennett, to whom he remained a loving and devoted husband for almost 67 years.

Bill moved to Springfield, Missouri, in 1954 and began a long and successful insurance sales career, serving as president of the Springfield Life Underwriters Association and Greene County Estate Planning Council. In 1962, he founded Professional Answering Service, another successful venture that is still going strong today. Bill was well known for his generosity and civic-mindedness. He served as president of the Springfield Rotary Club and chairman of the United Way of the Ozarks. He was also actively involved with the Ozark Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America, serving as president. He was a long-time member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and was currently a member of Campbell United Methodist Church.

Bill was extremely proud of his family. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; son, Tom of Dallas, Texas; daughter, Leslie of Springfield, Missouri; son David and his wife Julie of Springfield, Missouri; their children, daughter Mary Grace and Tyler Phillips of Columbia, Missouri; daughter Anna and Chad Walters, of Republic, Missouri; and son Joseph and his fiancée Elise Schreiber of Springfield, Missouri; and his four-legged companion Maddy. His grandchildren brought a special joy to his life and he was proud of the young adults they have become.

Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 6, at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 East Seminole, Springfield, Missouri. Memorial graveside services will be at 1 p.m., Thursday, May 7, at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, 5201 South Southwood Road, Springfield, Missouri, with full military honors, and pastor Kim Polchow.

The family requests that memorial donations be made in Bill's memory to the Rotary International Foundation, Ozark Trails Council Boy Scouts of America or Council of Churches of the Ozarks.