Retha R. Spaugh
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Retha Ruelene Spaugh, 93 of Oblong, IL passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at Ridgeview Health and Rehab Center in Oblong, IL. She was born October 31,1929 in Hammond, IN to the late Clarence Ray Smith (1944) and Priscilla Sylvia (Brownfield) Smith (2001).
Retha graduated from Oblong High School. She married Lloyd Pete Spaugh on November 2, 1947 (who preceded her in death in 2007). Retha spent the first 20 years of marriage devoted to caring for her 5 children, before she started working at the Heath Candy Company. She retired after working nearly 25 years. Retha was an active member of Cornerstone Wesleyan Church. She served as a board member for many years, taught Sunday School, and in later years taught Kid's Club which was very dear to her heart. She was an avid reader; later in life her daughter Linda created a Kindle account for her, and she read books from her Kindle daily, up to her 93rd year of life. She was also an active long-time member of the Oblong Library. The daily crossword puzzle in the newspapers was a favorite hobby. In her 80's she also became a daily user of her iPad, following family and friends on Facebook. Keeping in touch with all of them was most important to her. She also enjoyed playing solitaire or Words with Friends on the iPad.
Retha is survived by her daughters Colleen (Rey) Becker, Suellen (John) Lewis, Debbie (Dave) Earlewine, her son Jay Spaugh, and son-in-law Dick Parker: ten grandchildren; Derek (Melanie) Parker, Tara (Ken) Spencer, Tama Ostrow, Andy Goff, Matt (Julie) Goff, Jennifer (Jason) Atteberry, Damon (Catherine) Earlewine, Daron (Julie) Earlewine, Adrienne Spaugh, and Loren (Kyle) Brock; 23 great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Retha was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter Linda Parker (2022); baby grandson Brian Keith Lackey (1968); sisters baby Karen Elaine Smith, Roni Spencer (2009), Gracie Good (2016), Carol Myers (2019), and Charlotte Bennett (2019); brothers-in-law John Spencer, Everette Greene, Arthur Good, Leland Gene Spaugh, William Myers, Silas Bennett, LaVon McKinley and daughter-in-law (Jay's wife) Carole (Kresge) Spaugh.
Visitation will be from Noon to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, 106 W Missouri St, Oblong, IL. A Celebration of Life service will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will be at the Oblong Cemetery in Oblong, IL. The family requests that in lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may take the form of a contribution to the Cornerstone Wesleyan Church in Oblong, IL. Pulliam Funeral Home in Oblong, IL is in charge of arrangements.