William Edward Spain

Graveside service: 10: a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Visitation: The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials: His memory may be honored with a gift to Moslah Shrine Hospital Fund, P.O. Box 1320, Fort Worth, Texas 76101.

William was born Nov. 18, 1920, in Newton, Kan., to Ray T. Spain and his wife, Ruby. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on Nov. 25, 1940, serving until Aug. 27, 1943. During World War II, he was a warrant officer in North Africa. Upon graduation from the New England College of Optometry as class valedictorian, he practiced his trade for 55 years. Dr. Spain had a practice in downtown Arlington from 1956 to 1982, and later had a long association as an optometrist with Pearle Vision until his retirement in 2003. Dr. Spain married Helen Kaczynski in 1942 in Worcester, Mass. After his wife's death in 1978, he was married to Louise Black for 19 years until she died in 1998. He was a Shriner and a longtime member of Masonic Lodge 438, receiving a 50-year pin in 2001. He was also an accomplished clarinetist and played in both the Moslah Shrine Band and Greater Fort Worth-Dallas Lions Club Band. He was a past president of both bands. While with the Lions Club Band, Dr. Spain performed at Dallas Cowboys football games from 1960 until the mid-1970s. He loved to travel, and took numerous cruises. At the age of 83 he took a solo trip around the world, flying stand-by on each leg of the journey, without missing one flight. Dr. Spain previously attended Mansfield Church of Christ.

Survivors: Sons, Ron of Arlington, and Gary and wife, Sharon, of Arlington; stepsons, Chris Black and wife, Sandy, Timothy Black and Jim Ward; sister, Maxine Hill of Missouri; grandchildren, Michelle and husband, Lee, Erin, Brandon, Jesse, Heid, and Kendall; great grandchildren, Sophie and Logan; nephew, Don Robbins; and nieces, Suzie Hill and Ruth Williams.

Moore Funeral Home-Bowen Chapel

4216 S. Bowen Rd.

Arlington, TX 76016

(817) 468-8111