William “Bill” Spurgeon Farmer Jr.

William Spurgeon Farmer, Jr., 91, beloved husband of Peggy Farmer and father of the late Richard “Ricky” Farmer, peacefully transitioned from his earthly home to the Kingdom of Heaven on Friday March 25, 2022.

Born on April 4, 1930 in Taylors, SC, he was a son of the late Sarah (Brown) and William S. Farmer, Sr. Bill graduated from Paris High School and honorably served overseas in the US Army as a Cryptologist during the Korean Conflict. He retired as a Plant Manager at Philip Morris.

When 14-year-old Peggy Fortune began attending Paris High School, she saw a tall and handsome young man nearby. She felt her heart flutter and knew he was someone special. Disappointed he had failed to notice her, she summoned the courage to approach the senior student, casually walked up, and kicked him in the shin. Her bold endeavor proved successful and the rest, as they say, was history. 71 anniversary presents and a lifetime of memories later, Peggy and Bill would still hold hands and smile whenever they were together.

Bill was happiest outdoors marveling at the flora and fauna of South Carolina and beyond. He was an accomplished hiker who spent many enjoyable years leading hiking courses in OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at Furman University. Although Bill marveled at the breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge province of the Appalachian Mountain range, his all-time favorite place to hike was Mt. Le Conte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Sevier County, Tennessee. In addition to hiking, Bill was an avid gardener. If he wasn’t on a hike, he was in his garden, tending to his yard and many beautiful flowers.

During his retirement (when not hiking or gardening), Bill was busy bird watching, basket weaving, volunteering with the Jaycees and Thrive Upstate (formerly the Disabilities and Special Needs Board), and spending time with his wife and son.

Prior to recent years, Bill was an active and valued member of Hampton Heights Baptist Church and the Jim Kelly Sunday School Class. He was a respected Deacon who served on numerous boards and committees and functioned as a moderator at various church meetings. As a father of a deaf child, Bill wanted his son to know the Lord and was instrumental in starting a specialized ministry at Hampton Heights for members of the Deaf and Mute community.

Bill will be remembered for the love he had for his Lord, family, and nature as well as his kind and generous heart.

In addition to his wife of 71 years, Peggy F. Farmer, Bill is survived by many nieces and nephews; two sisters-in-law, Jerri Dailey and Wilma Fortune; a spiritual daughter and grandson, Sharon D. Roach and Jonathan Roach; and a dear friend, Dr. Darryl Halbert.

He was preceded in death by his son, Richard Anthony “Ricky” Farmer, on November 18, 2020 and his five siblings, Ernest Farmer, James Farmer, George Farmer, Lewis Farmer, and Helen Sweat and their spouses.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Bill Farmer will be held Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Downtown. There will be no public visitation prior to the service and burial will be privately held. Family and friends who are unable to attend the service can view the Live Stream by clicking on the video link below.

To honor Bill’s memory, please consider donating to the church he loved, Hampton Heights Baptist Church, 2511 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC 29615 and the organization that gave so much to his son, Thrive Upstate, PO Box 17467, Greenville, SC 29606, https://thriveupstate.org/mission/.

Friends are encouraged to leave condolence messages for the family by clicking on the button labeled “Leave A Message, Share A Memory” on the main obituary page.

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