Ronald Eugene Spears was born June 8, 1947, to Dorothy Neisler in Fillmore, Illinois. He departed this life on September 18, 2022, at his home in Winona, Missouri, at the age of 75.

He was united in marriage to Virginia Hopper. Together they raised two sons and three daughters.

Ronald is preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy; one brother, Dennis Spears; two sisters, Mary and Patsy.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia of Litchfield, IL; sons, Ryan Hopper of Birch Tree, MO, and Ronald M. Spears of Memphis, TN; daughters, Mary Spears, Colleen Spears, and Sara Spears all of Memphis, TN; sixteen grandchildren, Atiana Spears, Homer Spears Jr., Jeico Spears, Ryland Spears, Brenly Spears, Coby Spears, Austin Spears, Corena Spears, Tristan Spears, Isabella Halsey, Mitchell Spears, Abby Spears, Melody Gent, Natasha Hopper, Jacob Hopper, and Thomas Gibson; five great-grandchildren, Addy Spears, Rowan Spears, Emma Spears, Ella Spears, Aiden May; one brother, Tex Spears; and one sister, Donna Wassman.

Ronald went to school until the sixth grade, and then he served in the Army from 1967 to 1969 with the rank of Sargent. He worked as a gold miner for thirty-two years and retired in 2020.

He enjoyed gold mining and working with leather. He loved anything nature and the outdoors.

Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2022, at Yarber Mortuary, Birch Tree, Missouri. Inurnment will be at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.