Born on March 11, 1928 on his Grandparent’s Nunn Ranch in Nolan County outside of Sweetwater Texas.
Early Years- The Hill and Ruth Spruiell family moved their 8 children to Iowa Park in the winter of 1931 in a Model T car and horse drawn wagon, where the Spruiell (Guernsey and Jersey) Dairy began East of Iowa Park, under the Rafter S brand. As a young man, Glen and Brother Dan started their own dairy business; first on River Road in Wichita Falls and then at the Malabar Farm in the Valley View/ Kamay area. At the same time, Glen partnered with Brothers Dan and Bill to start Spruiell Drilling Company in 1955, and were the only employees until their first rig was paid for. He had an extraordinary work ethic to milk twice a day, haul the milk to town and work on the Spudder or Rod Machine (rig) in between.
Married Joyce Robertson of Iowa Park at the original First Christian Church (present State National/ Pilgrim Bank) in Iowa Park on November 19, 1949 and remained a loyal member for 69 years.
Community--Glen was an ambassador for the town that he loved and jokingly said many times that everyone ought to live in Iowa Park. He was instrumental in starting the Little League Baseball teams in the 60’s and helped build the WF George field, which was considered one of the best fields in the area. He enjoyed coaching on several minor and major league teams. Later, the Drilling Company (along with many others in the community and area) donated materials and labor to build the Iowa Park High School Football Stadium, when the current High School was built in 1969; the same year that the Hawks won State (and State Co-Champs the following year).
The only thing that Glen was prouder of than his hometown was his family. He often said that he was the wealthiest person on earth because of his family that surrounded him.
Hobbies included playing softball, deer hunting, raising greyhounds and hunting coyotes, raising and racing Quarter Horses, RVing with family across America, and attending area Bluegrass festivals with their many friends.
Glen was a natural athlete. He never trained for the sport, but was Heavyweight Wichita Falls Regional Golden Gloves Boxing Champion four years in a row in the late ‘40’s; only losing one bout in the ring in five years. His passion was playing softball and proudly recounted hitting a home run over the Cottonwood tree outside Centerfield at Scotland Park in Wichita Falls. He was clocked at 10.8 seconds in the 100 yard dash on a dirt track in Iowa Park. He never played football, but was offered a scholarship to play at SMU. Always loyal to family, he was needed and stayed to help on the farm.
Glen’s wit, humor, pleasant nature and remarkable memory for story telling about family and local history will be missed tremendously by our family and friends. He made friends quickly and developed life long relationships wherever he and Joyce traveled for business or vacation trips.
Preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife Joyce, six brothers and one sister.
Survived by three children--Becky House and husband Wendall of Iowa Park, Steve Spruiell and wife Carol of Dallas, and Stan Spruiell and wife Paula of Wichita Falls; Four grandchildren--Philip House and wife Amy of Baton Rouge LA, Lindsay Reyes and husband Felix of San Marcos TX, Ross Spruiell of San Francisco CA, and Ryan Spruiell of Wichita Falls; and four great-grandchildren--Graham, Cecilia Grace and Beatrice House, and Lily Reyes.
Family and friends will gather at Dutton Funeral Home Reception Room on Thursday, March 29th from 6-8pm. Funeral services will be on Friday, March 30th at 2pm at the First Christian Church in Iowa Park, with Pastor Landon Winstead presiding. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery in Iowa Park.
Honored pallbearers will be Richard Lehman, Ronnie Waters, Donnie Cavinder, Ricky Shook, David Buckley and Bobby Griffith.
The family would like to express our sincere gratitude for the excellent care and consideration that was given to our family from the Doctors, Nurses and Staff at Kell West Regional Hospital.
Contributions in Glen’s honor to The First Christian Church in Iowa Park or Senior Citizens’ in Iowa Park would be greatly appreciated.
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