FRANK L. SPANGLER
1928 - 2017
Obituary
Frank L. Spangler, 89, died on Sunday
(March 19, 2017) at Newton Medical Center.
He was born on Feb. 21, 1928, in
Newton, to James Ward and Mary Ellen (Reber) Spangler. Frank was
raised on a small farm west of Newton. He graduated from Newton High
School in 1945. Frank stayed close to home and tended to the farm
while caring for his parents.
On March 28, 1948, Frank married Geneva
Haynes in Newton. She died Oct. 18, 1998.
Frank continued farming for the first
five years he was married to Geneva. Following that, he worked for
ten months in the elevator construction industry and eventually
joined the fire department.
Frank set the bar high and was not a
stranger to "always pulling on his boot straps," as he had
many goals he wanted to accomplish. He went on to hold positions with
the Gas Service Co., First Federal Savings and became President of
First Bank of Newton.
Although Frank was successful in his
professional accomplishments, he had many other strong and admirable
qualities. He was noted as being a hard worker, and very active
within the community. He had a servant style leadership, and took
pride in helping the people of Newton. He held many leadership roles
professionally and within his church.
Frank served as a cub master, and was
on the Boy Scout committee; served as a member of the Kansas
Association of Wildlife State Board for several years; was a member
of the former Newton Jaycees; was a former member and president of
the Newton Lions Club; held a lifetime membership with the Chamber of
Commerce and served as Chamber President in 1983 and 1984; and served
as chairman of the Bethel College Newton Businessmen's Advisory
Board. He was also active within the educational areas of Newton: he
was a former president of the Newton USD 373 Board of Education, and
he served on the Tri County Board of Central Kansas Area
Vocational-Technical School in 1972 and 1973.
In 1993, at the age of 65, Frank
retired as the President of First Bank. He cared for his wife of 50
years, who later moved to the Kansas Christian Home, where Frank had
long ties, serving on the board for more than 20 years, and as a
corporate secretary for the facility.
In 1996, Frank received the Outstanding
Citizen of the Year award for Harvey County. He was quoted saying "I
didn't think I was equal to what some of the previous ones had been.
It will be tough to keep that image. I have to live up to that."
And, Frank did just that. He will be missed greatly by his family and
a host of friends and community members.
Preceding him in death were his
parents; his wife, Geneva D. Spangler, and three siblings: Louis
Spangler, Lois Williams and Margaret White.
Survivors include two sons, Ron
Spangler and wife Phyllis Buchele of Lawrence (and their two sons,
Bryan Spangler, Seattle, Washington, and Julian Spangler of Savannah,
Georgia) and son Kendall J. Spangler of Hutchinson.
Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m.
Friday (March 24, 2017) with the family greeting from 6 to 7 p.m. at
Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton.
Funeral Services will be on Saturday
(March 25, 2017) at 10 a.m. at Salem United Methodist Church in
Newton. Pastor Ron Kite will be presiding.
Burial will follow at Greenwood
Cemetery in Newton.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest
that donations may be made to the Newton Community Foundation, in
care of the funeral home at 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.
Friends may sign the book online at
www.broadwaycolonialfh.com
