Robert L. "Bob" Spradling, 71, passed away May 12, 2014, at Hospice House in Hutchinson, KS. He was born in Kansas City, Mo., on April 8, 1943, the son of Clell and Evelyn Wallace Spradling.

He married Sarah Akeley in Fargo, N.D., on June 25, 1966. He is survived by: his wife; their two children, spouses and grandchildren, Mike Spradling, his wife Susan, and their children, Will and Alex reside in Norman, Okla., Bill Spradling, his wife Melinda, and their two children, Morgan and Cade reside in New Braunfels, Texas. Bob is also survived by: his sister, Dorothy Nolker and her husband Donald, of Polo, Mo., and his mother-in-law, Frances Akeley Lontz, Fargo, N.D.

Bob grew up in Raytown, Mo., and after graduation from Raytown High School in 1961, he attended the University of Missouri at Columbia, Mo. A member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, Bob received his degree in accounting in January of 1966, and later earned his CPA certificate. Shortly after graduation Bob enlisted in the US Naval Aviation Officer's Candidate School. He was a Naval aviator and a Vietnam veteran.

After returning from the war in 1968, Bob worked for Arthur Andersen in St. Louis, Mo. In 1974, Bob left public accounting to become a financial executive in a variety of companies, chiefly in the oil and gas industry. Bob's career allowed him and his family to live in Missouri, Connecticut, New York, and Oklahoma before moving to Hutchinson in 1987. Doskocil Companies brought Bob to Hutchinson from Tulsa, Okla. He worked for Doskocil's until 1990, when he took over as CFO at Krause Corp in Hutchinson. In 1995, Bob returned to work for a division of his former employer, Combustion Engineering, and moved to Singapore. For a short time from 2000 to 2001, Bob and Sarah returned to Hutchinson where he was employed as CFO of Food Brands America before returning to work in the oil and gas industry in Singapore again. Bob and his wife lived overseas both in Singapore and in Aberdeen, Scotland, for a total of 12 years. Upon returning to the US in 2007, Bob served as president of Drilling Controls in Houston, Texas, where they lived until 2009, before returning home to Hutchinson.

Bob was a man always ready for a new adventure in life. He loved his work, traveled widely and enjoyed friends and colleagues across the globe. He was a fan of all types of sports, particularly golf, but friends and family were the most dear to him. He will be missed.

Memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 30, 2014, at Grace Episcopal Church, 2 Hyde Park Drive, Hutchinson, with the Right Reverend Michael P. Milliken presiding. Military honors will be conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard. Friends may sign the book prior to the service at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501. Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave condolences for Bob's family.