Herschell Ray Spears

Herschell Ray Spears, 92, of Winnsboro, Texas, passed away Friday, May 6, 2022. Graveside service will be held on May 24, 2022 at 10:00 am, at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway in Dallas.

Herschell was born June 28, 1929, in Clarksville, Texas. A star basketball player at Grand Prairie High School, he went on to marry his high school sweetheart, Betty, on February 4, 1949.

He was a devoted father to Michael and Candice and coached their baseball and softball teams for numerous years during their youth.

Herschell joined the U.S. Navy on February 29, 1948, serving as a Personnelman in Dallas, TX and Atlanta, GA, retiring from active duty as a Chief Petty Officer on January 15, 1968 then continuing as a fleet reservist for an additional 30 years. During his fleet reserve years he continued working for the U.S. Navy by managing the enlisted and officer clubs in both Dallas and Atlanta.

Herschell and Betty retired in 1989 and made their home on Lake Fork in East Texas. At the time of Betty’s passing in August 2007, Herschell sold his beloved lake home to live closer to his children in Arlington but ultimately settled at Autumn Winds in Winnsboro. He was an avid fisherman and loved working on his genealogy tracing his family back to 1745 using a personal computer he taught himself to use for research. Herschell lived every day with vigor and humor and was a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Herschell was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Betty Spears; his parents Raymond and Jessie Spears; and his sister, Evelyn Martin. He is survived by his children, Michael Spears and wife, Denise; Candice Highsmith and husband, Lee; grandchildren, Jason Spears and wife, Stacy; Katelyn Marlowe and Benjamin Highsmith; and great-grandchildren, Avery Spears and Griffin Spears.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or Mission Arlington (www.missionarlington.org).