Born in Austin, Texas, Dec. 1, 1948, to Jackie Spruce and William McCarty Spruce Sr. died in Mansfield, Texas., Feb. 27, 2023, at age 74.
Bill attended Irving High. He went on to graduate from The University of Texas at Arlington in 1971 with a B.S. in Aerospace and Aeronautics Engineering. During his last two years of college, he was chosen for the co-op program at Bell Helicopter, where he was then hired full-time after graduation. He also served in the Marine Reserves from 1971-1979 as a crew chief on CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters.
Bill’s early career at Bell Helicopter included: FAA certification of the 206L and 222, serving as Lead Flight Test Engineer (FTE) on the AH-1W adopted by the USMC as the SuperCobra, and working countless other flight test programs. He was a long-standing member of the Society of Flight Test Engineers, where he held several offices.
But his career was ultimately defined by his contributions and dedication to the V-22 Osprey. The flight test program took him far and wide, from Texas as Lead FTE on V-22 #1, to Naval Air Station Patuxent River. He was deployed at sea alongside service members on the USS Wasp and the USS Bataan as Lead Flight Director for shipboard testing. He worked tirelessly, eventually seeing his work culminate in the extraordinarily successful full deployment of the V-22 to both the USMC and USAF.
After the V-22, he returned in 2009 to Texas to preside over the whole of Bell flight testing as Chief Flight Test Engineer before finally retiring in 2013 after 42+ years of commitment to Bell Helicopter.
He spent retirement enjoying the time off and his love of golf and supported his wife as they fostered newborns for various adoption agencies.
Bill is survived by wife: Janet, daughter: Kim (Steve) Rodgers, sons: Todd (Julie) Spruce, Greg (Emily) Spruce and Grant Spruce, 7 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, sister: Karen (Jim) Ivy, mother and father-in-law, Helen and Marvin Davis, brother-in-law: Dan (Barbara) Davis, sister-in-law: Cindy Davis, and numerous nieces and nephews. No services scheduled at present time. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Gladney Center for Adoption or a charity of personal choice.
