Bill Sappenfield

LEESBURG, Fla. - Dr. William Paul (Bill) Sappenfield, 82, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died March 9, 2006 in Leesburg.

He served in World War II as a staff sergeant aerial engineer with the 331st Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb Group stationed in Bury St. Edmund, England. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Agriculture in 1949, he received his Doctor of Philosophy in 1952. He was employed by the University of Missouri as a professor of agriculture for 36 years and worked at the Delta Center in Portageville, Mo., doing cotton research. He received meritorious awards from the MU School of Agriculture. After retiring from the University of Missouri, he worked as a cotton consultant for Delta and Pine Co. of Mississippi developing new strains of cotton.

For 59 years, he was married to the former Ruth Yates, who survives.

Also surviving are his four children, Chuck Sappenfield of Independence, Mo., Mary Anne Williams of Waco, Texas, William "Bill" Sappenfield of Memphis, Tenn., and Eric Sappenfield of Southaven, Miss.; and nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Private funeral services are scheduled.