Barbara R Spear

Barbara R. Spear, 89, of Davenport died Wednesday, November 09, 2011 at Crest Health Care Center in Davenport. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 2:00 pm at Newcomb Presbyterian Church in Davenport. Visitation will be Monday, November 14, 2011 from 3-6 pm at The Runge Mortuary. Inurnment will be in Davenport Memorial Park at a later date. Memorials may be made to the church or the Ridgecrest Foundation

Barbara was born November 25, 1921 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Ace and Ruby McLeod) Hurd. She graduated from North Bay, Ontario teacher’s college, attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and graduated from Marycrest College with a degree in Elementary Education and did post graduate work at the University of Iowa. She married Cyrus A. Spear on May 6, 1944 in Cochrane, Ontario; he preceded her in death on August 5, 1993.

She taught six years in Canada and almost thirty years in Davenport, mostly at Adams Elementary School. She was a member of Newcomb Presbyterian Church, AAUW, Davenport Retired Teacher’s Assoc., AARP and Plus 60 Club.

Barbara met Cyrus, an American service man during WWII, through a friend of her younger sister, Wanda. In her early years, Barb and Cy enjoyed swimming, ice skating and cross country skiing. They traveled extensively in Canada, Europe, Africa, China and the U.S. She enjoyed summers at her cottage in Muskoka, Ontario. Her children and grandchildren looked forward to time spent with their grandparents at the cottage. Barbara enjoyed the love and attention of family and cherished the companionship of dear friends through church, organizations to which she belonged, fellow teachers and neighbors. She enjoyed her years in the classroom and always spoke highly of her friends in the teaching profession.

Her later years were made more pleasant by the companionship of her friend, William Shore.

Those left to honor her memory include son, Wayne (Bonnie) Spear, daughters, Wanda (Craig) Leonard and Ruth Spear and son, Tracy (Cathy) Spear; nine grandchildren; three great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Her parents, brother, Roy and a sister, Wanda Pearse preceded her in death.