COLUMBIA — Bill Bias worked until he was 85 years old. He loved St. Louis Cardinals baseball, his grandchildren and anything John Deere.
"When it came to hobbies, he didn't have many," his son Ron Bias said. "He worked his whole life."
William F. (Bill) Bias of Columbia died Sunday, March 30, 2014, at his home with his family at his side, he was 89.
He was born May 30, 1924, to Chester and Edith Bias of Fayette, the oldest son of 12 children.
In 1942, he married Hazel Proctor. To this union 3 children were born, Linda (Jesse) Stone of Columbia; Jenny (Kenny) Price of League City, Texas; and Mike Bias of Moberly; seven grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren and thirteen great-great grandchildren. They were divorced in 1958.
On March 15, 1943, he was drafted into the U.S. Army serving in Philippines and surrounding Islands. He was honorably discharged in December of 1945, after earning the Purple Heart.
He married Bernice VanderLinden on July 9, 1959, and they were blessed with two sons, Ron (Rhonda) of Columbia; Bob (Sheila) of Centralia. Three grandchildren, Nathan & Blane, Brittney (Patrick) Rutherford; two step-great-grandsons, Shawn and Wesson; and great-grandson, Gabe, who was the joy of his great-grandpa’s life.
Bill owned and operated Bias Lawn Service for 20 some years, starting in 1976. He was one of the first commercial mowing services in Columbia, his son Bob Bias said. After retiring from mowing he delivered auto parts for Carquest for over 10 years.
A Carquest workmate of his father once told Bob Bias, "The thing about your dad was that he was the fastest driver there, and he put all the young ones to shame."
Mr. Bias instilled his strong work ethic in his two sons as soon as they started working for Bias Lawn Service, Bob Bias said.
"Bob and his brother always wanted to be done mowing yards by five o'clock," his daughter-in-law Sheila Bias said. "But Bill would always say, 'Just one more.'"
His daughter-in-law said he tried to help her and her husband paint his deck even when he was well into his 80s.
"Dad never slowed down," Bob Bias said.
In 1970, Bill and Bernice joined Parkade Baptist Church. Shortly after that he became a member of the Fisherman’s Sunday School class and the Tuesday morning men’s prayer breakfast. He was the chief coffee maker for them until poor health forced him to quit.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and six sisters.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, children and two brothers, J.C. Bias of Fayette; Floyd of Texas; one sister, Thelma of Fayette.
This was Papa and I at Christmas.
