David W.R. Vincent, 84

A memorial service for David W.R. Vincent, 84, of Gainesville, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019, at the Kingdom Hall on Highway 160 west of Gainesville. A gathering will be held at The Center in Gainesville following the service. To honor Mr. Vincent’s true cowboy style, guests are encouraged to wear Western attire. He died unexpectedly June 23 at his residence.

He was born July 31, 1934, in Windsor, Wisconsin, the son of Burton D. and Louise C. Altenburg Vincent. On April 26, 1974, he married Marian “Molly” Billings. He was a retired operating engineer with many friends throughout the country. 

In 1975, the Vincents sold the properties and business they owned in Wisconsin and moved to Forsyth to try their hand at ranching. Over the next 10 or so years they added running water and heat to the old farmhouse on their Ozarks property and raised cattle then horses and angora goats. To support their hobby, Mrs. Vincent worked at the golf course in Forsyth, and Mr. Vincent ran heavy equipment during the Branson boom years.

Eventually, they sold their ranch and bought a large motorhome, which they lived in for a couple of years, seeing the United States. Next they bought a small place in the California mountains outside of Bakersfield and lived there another couple of years until they decided the Ozarks was where they truly wanted to live. They bought a small place in Gainesville, where they spent their retirement years. They spoke often of the area’s great weather, friendly people and natural beauty. 

Mr. Vincent was an active member at the Kingdom Hall and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by step-sons Steven Billings and wife Sally, Scott Billings and wife Mindy, and Richard Billings, all of Wisconsin; daughters Vicki and Cheryl; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Molly, who died in 2018.

Arrangements by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville.