John "Dick" Leonard Spain Jr.

Charlotte, North Carolina – John L. Spain Jr. (“Dick Spain”), 81, passed away on April 1, 2022. He was born on September 20, 1940 in Petersburg, Virginia. The son of police officer, the late John Leonard Spain Sr. and wife, Frances Talley Spain. His childhood and adolescence were spent in Petersburg, VA, where he graduated from Petersburg High School at 16 years of age. He continued his education at The University of Richmond, earning a BS in Psychology. Then onto Wake Forrest University School of Divinity for a Masters Degree. He then enrolled at Duke University earning a Masters in Divinity. Dick finished his education at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN, where he met his wife of 55 years, Carol Hegedus Spain. His time at Tennessee earned him a Masters in Clinical Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

Dick and Carol got married in 1967, graduated and moved (3) years later, taking a position at The University of Detroit where he taught Clinical Psychology. He remained there and received tenure. Dick and Carol took home their only son, Nicholas Hegedus Spain in 1980. They then moved to Charlotte, NC, in 1984 where they remained as a family for 38 years. Dick started his private practice in Clinical Psychology and worked with The Charlotte Rehabilitation Center and other local facilities, helping many different people. His love and passion for helping others fueled his practice which continued growing until he retired.

Dick was a prideful and faithful follower to Duke Basketball and Tennessee Football. He shared this with his family and enjoyed passing on the passion to his son, Nicholas. He was a music lover with a focus on jazz, had a high level of interest in cars, never missed an opportunity for boating and water skiing, grilling out, eating BBQ pork, and always looked forward to the annual family fishing trip in Northern Ontario, Canada. Dick and Carol traveled the world as much as they could and continued exploring and enjoying the Tennessee and North Carolina mountains.

Dick and family joined Myers Park Presbyterian Church when they moved to Charlotte. He served as an elder at the church and stayed heavily involved with the church community.

He retired from his private practice in 2018, traveled with his wife some before the pandemic occurred and then moved to their mountain house in Black Mountain, NC, to avoid COVID. A tragic fall sent him to surgery September of 2021. Dick was transported to Charlotte Rehab followed by a skilled nursing center where he passed away on April 1, 2022.

Dick was predeceased by his parents, survived by his wife, Carol Spain, his son, Nicholas Spain, his daughter-in-law, Jamie Pentolino Spain along with his (2) grandsons, Jackson D. Spain and Maddox C. Spain.

The service to honor and celebrate his life will be held at 11 am, Friday, April 8, at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, 2501 Oxford Pl., Charlotte. The family will receive friends following the service. Interment will be private at Myers Park Presbyterian Church Columbarium.

Memorial contributions may be made to Myers Park Presbyterian Church – designate International Outreach Programs.