Albert "Dickie" Spears

Lt. Colonel Retired Albert “Dickie” Spears, 70, of Fort Smith, passed away Saturday in Fort Smith. He was born September 20, 1944 in Milwaukee, WI to the late Albert Kessler Tank and Virginia Mae (Wycough) Tank. He was retired from the Georgia Department of Corrections and retired Lt. Colonel from the United States Army. He served as a VFW State Officer in Georgia. He attended Immaculate Conception School thru the 8th Grade and graduated from St. Anne’s Academy. He was preceded in death by his mother Ginny Tank Spears, father Albert Kessler Tank, brother Benny Spears and sister Vickie McNamer. Funeral service will be 10:00 AM Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with burial at Fort Smith National Cemetery with Full Military Honors under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. He is survived by his wife Sondra, one sister Melanie Tank of Virginia, three brothers Art Tank of Texas, Mark Spears of Oklahoma and David Spears of Arkansas, father-in-law John H. Rotert of Fort Smith, brother-in-law and sister-in-law John and Lynne Rotert of Van Buren, special cousin Paul Howard of Lavaca, numerous nieces and nephews and a very special little four legged dog Polly. Viewing will be from 8:00 AM -5:00 PM Monday thru Wednesday with a visitation from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 901 North University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72207, St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN or the Sebastian County Humane Society, PO Box 10953, Fort Smith, AR 72917.