William Eugene Backler, 83, passed away July 19, 2015, in Springfield, Mo. He went to meet his Lord; his wife Patricia Ann; his father Walter James Backler; mother Leah Marie Backler; brother Sterling Backler; and sister Rose Yamnitz. He was born of Walter and Leah Marie on Dec. 18, 1931, near Fredericktown, Mo. Bill, as he was known, graduated from high school in Fredericktown and later joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War where he rose to the rank of staff sergeant. Bill earned a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry at the University of Missouri in Columbia. His first posting was with the North Dakota Forest Service in the Turtle Mountains, followed by work for the Illinois Department of Conservation, and finally retirement from the field in northeast Ohio. Bill and wife Pat relocated to Springfield, Mo., in 1976 where he worked at the General Electric manufacturing site for 20 years. Concurrently, he was owner/operator of an air conditioning and refrigeration repair business until felled by illness in 2012. He was a long-time member of Glenstone Baptist Church, having served as a deacon. Bill is survived by son Wayne Backler and son Randall Backler, along with his wife Heather and their two children Jordan and Abby, all of whom reside in Springfield. Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 22, 2015 in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, Springfield, Mo. Graveside service and burial is slated for the Missouri Veterans Cemetery at 2 pm Thursday, July 23, 2015.