Frances Evelyn Spangler

Frances Evelyn Spangler was born October 15th, 1927 in Paoli, Indiana. Her father, Arthur L. Dillard, Sr., was a town officer and prosecuting attorney. Her mother, Irene Dillard, made a career as head of her own title abstract firm. She was the sister of Margaret Anne Boyer (Roscoe) and Arthur L. Dillard, Jr. (Diane).

Frances Evelyn Spangler attended Franklin College where she was a secretary for the college president, using a Dictaphone and typing letters. She also worked summers at the Orange County Bank. During her time at Franklin College, she met her future husband, Bradford Dean Spangler, a member of the United States Marine Corps, after he returned from overseas. They married January 28th, 1950 and began to create a family of their own.

Before leaving Indiana, Frances Evelyn and Bradford Dean had the first two of five children, Lynne Anne and Kathy Sue. In 1954 they moved to St. Petersburg, Florida to be closer to family, open two service stations, and continue the growth of their family. They had three more children, Sarah Lee, Steven Dean, and Michael Alan.

She spent 20 years home taking care of her family and raising children before returning to work. In 1972 she worked for MIS (Medical Information Service). She later became a lab technician in 1976. In the early 1980’s she went to work for Reardon Office Supply, stayed with them for 10 years, before a company wide downsize.

Bradford Spangler passed away on October 8th, 1990. Frances remained in St. Petersburg, Florida. She volunteered countless hours to Pinellas County Schools between 1991-2002. She invested her time and heart into the lives of many children over the years. She was an avid crafter and was most proud of her handmade cards. She was very talented when it came to knitting and crocheting and made sweaters, slippers, and hundreds of miniature red stockings to be given to students, friends, and strangers alike. Her family still cherishes her homemade Christmas stockings and ornaments. She also enjoyed gardening and prided herself on her pineapples.

Family has always been the most important thing to Frances and she always made sure they knew how proud she was of them. She is survived by her children Lynne McBride (Michael), Kathy Mitchell (John), Sarah Eichles (Richard), Steve Spangler (Traci), and Michael Spangler (Linda). She had 9 grandchildren: Kristin McDaniel (Michael), Sean Holder (Ashley), Kerry Long (Nathaniel), Jennifer Filmon (Jay), Scott McBride (Marcy), Kyle McBride (Heather), Bryan Holder (Maureen), Brittany Colbert (Brandon) and Jaclyn Hammock (Brian). She had 16 great grandchildren: Cindy Hurst (Brad), Bailey McDaniel, Katelyn Higginbotham, Carson Higginbotham, Hailee Filmon, Anthony Filmon, Addison Long, Kaiden McBride, Nehemiah McBride, Bryce McBride, Cole McBride, Rosie McBride, Cale Colbert, Ava Lynne McBride, Marley Hammock, and Cade Colbert.

In loving memory of the most beautiful, sweet woman this world has been blessed to know. In her honor, and in lieu of flowers or donations, the family asks that you be kind, work hard, take pride, and remember that “it is nice to be nice”.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st Street, Seminole, FL 33776