J. Earl Spellman, a 7 year resident of Willow Valley Manor, died on Friday, April 10, 2009. Born September 21, 1918 in Washington, NJ, he was the son of the late Charles A., Sr. and Waneta Mertz Spellman of West Chester. He would have been married to Virginia Morris Spellman for 67 years this May.
Active in scouting for many years, Earl attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Mr. Spellman was a 1941 graduate of Penn State University, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. While at Penn State he played on the baseball and soccer teams. During his last 2 years in college he played baseball in the Philadelphia Athletics farm system. He was also a member of the Penn State Pioneers, with more than 50 years of loyal and dedicated service to the university.
Upon graduation from Penn State, Mr. Spellman first worked for General Electric in Philadelphia, working on electric guided torpedoes during WWII. He later became Production Manager of Schramm Air Compressor Co. in West Chester. In 1950 he joined the DuPont Co. as a Senior Machine Tool Consultant, retiring in 1977. He then became a consultant for Unicorn Industries, based in London, UK, for several years. He was a member of the Willow Street United Church of Christ, and a former member of the Unionville Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder.
In addition to his wife, Virginia, Mr. Spellman is survived by a daughter, Beverly, wife of the late Martin Paul, of Annapolis, MD, and 2 sons; Dr. John Spellman, married to the former Barbara Wood, of West Chester, and Dr. James Spellman, husband of the former Deborah Rice, of Lewes, DE; 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his 2 brothers, Charles A. Spellman, Jr. and Dr. Elwood M. Spellman, and his sister Claudine Spellman Bischoff.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in the Orr Auditorium of Willow Valley Manor, 211 Willow Valley Square, Lancaster, PA. The family will greet friends immediately following the memorial service.
Private interment will be held at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604, or to the memorial fund of Willow Street United Church of Christ, 2723 Willow Street Pike, Willow Street, PA 17584.
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