William T. "Bill" Nation

Friday, January 6, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Waters Funeral Home in Vandalia.

Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Waters Funeral Home
Officiating: Rev. Bob Hoehn.
Music: Sharon Hoehn - pianist; Ruth Nation - soloist.
Interment: the Vandalia Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Beth Nation, Chris Nation, Larry Nation, Marty Nation, Don Nation and Bill Hicks.

William T. "Bill" Nation passed away at 7:53 a.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at his home south of Vandalia. Bill grew up and attended schools in the Vandalia/Farber area. Bill farmed all of his life and he and Doris have been at their farm now for over 43 years. He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Vandalia. Bill had been active as a leader with the Liberty Wide Awake 4-H Club, a lifetime member of the American Legion, and member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge in Vandalia. He had been instrumental in starting the Vandalia Rural Fire Department and the Tri-County Saddle Club, was a lifelong member of the American Hereford Association, and received the State Beef Cattle Improvement Association Outstanding Seed Stock Producer Award in 1992. Bill enjoyed square dancing, gardening, listening to Cardinal baseball, bird hunting, horses, and visiting with friends at the local coffee shops.

Born: December 22, 1920 in rural Vandalia, the son of William Albert and Clara Louise (Vatterrodt) Nation.

Married: Doris Ilene Shoemate in Hannibal on August 4, 1951; she survives.

Survivors include: wife Doris of rural Vandalia; one son, William Ray and wife, Ruth Nation of rural Vandalia; one sister, Aileen and husband, Kenneth Hill of New Philadelphia, Ohio; two grandchildren: Christopher Wm. Nation of Hannibal, and Elisabeth Marie Nation of Wright City; also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by: parents; three brothers: Edward, Norman, and Calvin Nation, and one brother, Alton Nation, who died in infancy; three sisters: Lorean Hermann, Ina Mae Hicks, and Dazalea Lang.

Memorials are encouraged to the First Baptist Church or to the Vandalia Library Association.