Mary Alice Spahr

Mary Alice Spahr of Terre Haute passed away peacefully in her home on November 14, 2011. She was born in Terre Haute on September 23, 1912, and was preceded in death by her parents, Henry, a train engineer, and Bertha Strasser Hilton, a homemaker and seamstress. She was the widow of Ralph W. Spahr, owner of Wabash Distributing Company.

Survivors include daughter Lucy (Richard) Ford of Chantilly, VA, grandson Eric (Vicki) Ford of Fort Mill, SC, granddaughter Kristen (Shane) Torbert of Alexandria, VA, great grandsons Philip and Thomas Ford of Fort Mill, SC, and Benjamin Torbert of Alexandria, VA. She is also survived by numerous neighbors, friends, comfort keepers and special friends: Teri and Steve Pfotenhauer, Joan Chervenko, and Frank DeSanto.

Growing up in Terre Haute, Mary Alice attended Cruft School in her early years. She briefly attended Sarah Scott Junior High School but then graduated from Indiana State Normal Training School. In 1930 her father did research which led to Mary Alice being accepted into the National Society of the Children of the American Revolution. Her ancestry dated back to 1757. Later at Indiana State Teachers College she earned a degree in art education and was a member of Alpha Sorority. After college she taught art in Vigo County Schools.

In 1945 the family moved to Indianapolis where Mary Alice worked in public service, and Ralph worked for a Goodyear Service Store.

The family moved to Muncie in 1948 as Ralph became manager of a Goodyear Service Store. Besides being a case worker for the American Red Cross, Mary Alice enjoyed volunteering in many of their daughter’s school activities. She also served as president of the Business and Professional Women’s Club and was a member of the Association of American University Women and Chi Omega Alumnae.

In 1963 Mary Alice and her family returned to Terre Haute, and she became a social worker for the Vigo County Welfare Department and the retiring in 1978.

In Terre Haute Mary Alice enjoyed Newcomers Club where for many years she and her committees made Easter egg trees and holiday tray favors for patients at Union Hospital. She was also a member of Altrusa International, Woman’s Department Club, Alphas, and the Elks. As a member of the Service League of Union Hospital, she supplied thousands of word puzzles for the various out-patient clinics and waiting rooms. Many activities were special to Mary Alice, one of which was the small Thursday bridge club which she enjoyed for 46 years. Additionally, at the local Terre Haute Bridge Center she attained the level of Bronze Life Master in 1998, playing duplicate bridge through the American Contract Bridge League. Mary Alice enjoyed traveling to many local, state, and national tournaments. Besides bridge, Mary Alice enjoyed reading, watching basketball, traveling, and spoiling her beloved cats. And, still at 99years young she was very interested in news of the day,but especially enjoyed telephone calls from her grandchildren and great grand children.Mattox-Ryan Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements.A celebration of Life will beheld at The Holiday Inn on Thursday starting at 1:30PM.In Lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to The Spay Neuter League,201 South 3rd Street,West Terre Haute,IN 47885 or The Terre Haute Bridge Center,303 South 14th Street Terre Haute,IN 47807.