George Beverly Spaw

George Beverly Spaw Jr. was born in Austin TX to George Beverly and Willie Mae Spaw, on August 17, 1923. He was raised In Austin until the death of his mother at age three when his Grandmother Peal cared for him in Dripping Springs, TX. He returned to Austin to attend John T Allen and Austin High School. George enjoyed a multi-faceted career. He served his country during WWII in the Navy as a Pharmaceutical Assistant (though in his dreams he was a Navy Seal). After moving to Fort Worth, TX, he worked as a Barber and owned his own shop. For a short period of time George was employed as a male nurse by the US Public Health Hospital. After deciding he LIKED being his own Boss, he formed Able Refrigeration & Heating which got him at the front of the listings in the phone book and provided us with an easy way to know who was an acquaintance and who was a client by whom they asked to speak with...Mr. Spaw or Mr. Able!!! After a long marriage to Waunita Fay Martin with whom he had two children, they divorced and he subsequently married Eleanor Elizabeth Sloan who was Head Reference Librarian in the Ft. Worth Public Library system. After her retirement they bought a small farm near Bridgeport, TX, where he was able to use his talents in horticulture. When farming got too hard they moved into the city of Bridgeport where they made many long lasting friends through their time spent at the local library and with fellow parishioners of Bridgeport United Methodist Church. George attended many classes offered for Senior Citizens at the Tarrant County Junior College and even helped to teach part-time in the Horticulture Department there. The talent he pursued and developed the most was learning how to oil paint. His paintings were often displayed and sold at one of the local banks. He also LOVED to read, enjoyed Jazz and Big Band music and played with various degrees of talent, the guitar, the piano and the vibraharp. After the death of Eleanor, he spent time with his friends and family until he met a widow named Dorothy Parsons. She and he were constant companions until his medical issues forced him to move into a nursing facility. They spent as much time together as letters, phone calls and the much too few visits were able to be arranged. Dementia robbed George of his memory during the last six months but he was cared for and loved by the staff of North Pointe Nursing and Rehab in Watauga, TX where he passed away on March 20, 2009 at the age of 85. His children, Van Allen Basford, Robin Lynn Spaw Litteral and her Husband, Jerry, George Beverly Spaw III will miss their Dad but will pass on various tales of family lore to their children and grandchildren: Dustin Lee Litteral (Ashlyn Feaker- Litteral, Bralen Cash, Cooper Ryder & Ally Grace Quinn-Litteral) of Dallas, TX and Katherine Colleen(KC)Litteral Zanercik( Eleanor Lilian Zanercik, to be born in Germany in August) of Ft Irwin, CA and Ruth Lynn and Rebecca Ann Spaw of Cedar Hill, TX. George is also survived by his older brother Chester, younger sister, Janis Spaw Blackburn & husband Alton, all of Austin, TX & younger brother, James(Jimmy) Spaw of Houston, TX. He is predeceased by both of his wives, Waunita and Eleanor, and sister-in-law, Maurine Spaw. He will be buried at the family cemetery in Dripping Springs on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in George's name to the Alzheimer's Association, 919 N. Michigan Avenue, Ste. 1000, Chicago, IL 60611