Donald Eugene Spradling, of Fort Smith, Arkansas passed away September 24, 2023 on his 83rd birthday. Don was born in 1940 to Edgar Lee and Lois Raye Spradling of Hartford, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents; his twin infant sister; sister-in-law, Joyce Stanfill; brothers-in-law, J Virgil Caudle, Gary Blythe, Bill Stanfill, James Bass and nephew, Terry Stanfill.
Born and raised in Hartford, Arkansas, Don moved to Fort Smith upon graduation from high school. After joining the United States Air Force and marrying his beautiful bride, Rosemary, the two of them were off to Spokane, Washington for four years. While in Spokane, Don attended night school to become a Barber. After receiving further Barber training in Little Rock, they returned to Fort Smith and Don began his career as a Barber. In fact, that is the career he never retired from. He still had clients making haircut appointments as recently as last week. He always had his scissors and electric clippers in the trunk of his car…just in case someone needed a trim.
Don served for many years as a Firefighter at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas and retired from Firefighting in McAlister, Oklahoma. For several years he even drove a tow-truck. He could repair just about anything, but was especially good at sharpening lawn mower blades…am I right? His vegetable gardens were usually full of beautiful produce and he was eager to share the bounty.
If something “needed doing” at the church, or anywhere for that matter, we called Don. He was the type of man who would do anything for anyone…including phoning his big sister, Mary, every single evening to check on her. He had to make sure she was watching the Razorbacks or the NASCAR races. The best way to describe Don’s service to others was to say it was not him at all…Don, because of his faith in God, was being the hands and feet of Jesus.
If you knew Don Spradling for any length of time, you enjoyed endless stories and jokes. He always had a new joke and could tell them better than most anyone! He knew everyone, it seemed. For those of us who knew him well, this planet will not be quite the same without him.
Though he and Rosemary did not have children of their own, they helped raise and nurture many children through the years. Those of us who were the beneficiary of their love and care will always be so grateful.
Don is survived by his wife of 60 years, Rosemary Caudle Spradling; sister, Mary Bass of Little Rock; sister-in-law, Shirley Blythe of Waldron; four nephews, Larry Stanfill (Mary) of Greenwood, Greg Stanfill of Lowell, Steve Bunting (Laurie) of Waldron, Leigh Bass (Shawn) of West Fork; niece, Cheryl Bass Williams (Paul) of Little Rock; and more great-nieces and nephews than we could count!
Pallbearers will be Leigh Bass, Steve Bunting, Troy Douglas, Damon Elkins, Greg Stanfill, Larry Stanfill and Paul Williams.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m., Friday, September 29 at Oak Cliff Baptist Church in Fort Smith with burial at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Oak Cliff Baptist Church, 3701 S. Gary St., Ft. Smith, Arkansas, 72903.
To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
