Ninety-four years ago, Leda Stockton Spingath and her twin sister Elizabeth “Bert” Stockton Bourdet were born in a military hospital in the territory of Hawaii. When the girls were toddlers, the family moved to the US and eventually settled in Los Angeles, California. She spent her summers near Hollywood with her Uncle Leon Errol, a popular comedy star in the movies of the time and socialized with Humphrey Bogart, Johnny Weismuller and other entertainment industry notables. She and her sister were leading members of the Ladies Club at George Washington High School where they both excelled in art and painting. As soon as World War 2 broke out, she and Richard “Dick” Spingath were married. He was injured during training in the Marine Corp so was assigned transportation duty stateside. Leda greatly enjoyed accompanying her young husband on over-land vehicle transfers and making their first home out of a converted chicken coop.
The joyous center of Leda’s life was being the mother of four boys, Stephen, Craig, Kurt, and Neal. She sewed their clothes, cooked from scratch, and kept the house and home together during their frequent spirited play sessions with their dad. The family followed Dick’s employment opportunities from LA to San Jose, Stayton, OR, Milwaukee, OR and eventually settled in Kelso, WA. When the boys were grown, she and Dick established an antique and refinishing business out of their home in Castle Rock, WA. They looked forward to their cross-country buying trips every year. However, during the space of one year, Bert and Dick both died, and Leda was left in Castle Rock, alone.
During that time, her faith in Jesus Christ began to grow stronger and more vibrant. For the next 45 years of her life, Christ became her joyous center. She took up painting again. Her works were displayed and sold in local galleries and juried art shows. She served as president of the Columbian Artists in Longview WA for several years. Her sons and their families rallied around her to work in the furniture shop and keep up with business.
Eventually, she sold the Castle Rock house and retired to live with her children. She moved to Salem and then to Stayton, always sharing in the lives of her grandchildren. Finally, she returned to Salem to become a beloved resident at Sunnyside Mobile Home Park. She was a member of Salem Vineyard church for nearly 25 years, worshipping and praying regularly with the members of that fellowship who loved and cared for her.
She passed from this world peacefully in her sleep at the age of 94 surrounded by family at the home of her son Craig in Marysville, WA.
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