PRINCETON — Gerald Edward Spires, 88, of Princeton passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2013, at the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle.

He was born on Sept. 21, 1924, in Ramsey to Thomas and Elsie (Cliffton) Spires. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. He was stationed in the Pacific Theater and was a boatswain. He farmed near the Ashton/Franklin Grove area for most of his life. He married Gertie Moreland on Nov. 2, 1946, in Decatur. She survives.
 
He was a member of Christ Community Church. He was a former member and deacon of the Baptist Church in Amboy, where he was also secretary/treasurer of the Sunday school program. Gerald also sang in the Spires Family Quartet.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Gertie Spires of Princeton; one son, Gerald (Tana) Spires Jr. of Rochelle; three grandchildren, Heather (Jeff) Jasper, Ryan (Sarah) Spires, and Shane (Amy) Stark; five great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandsons; one stepgreat-great-grandson and one sister, Pearl Tadys of Buffalo, N,Y.