Joseph Boyd Spalding

Joseph Boyd Spalding, age 87 beloved husband, father and friend, went to be with our Lord our Savior on Oct 7, 2012. He was born in Lebanon, Kentucky on February 6, 1925. He is preceded in death by his wife, Bettye, survived by three brothers, George, Leon, and Bert Spalding and two sisters Doris Chandler and Catherine Thompson of Lebanon Kentucky, and daughters Debora Barth of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Cathy Spalding of Casselberry, Florida and Lisa Skopal of San Antonio, Texas, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Joe, fondly known as Jobie by his wife, proudly served his country in the Air Force retiring after 26 years. He was a gunner on B-17's in Europe during WWII and was on his 25th mission when the war ended. He also served in the Korean War and as an advisor during the Vietnam War. After retiring he worked for the next 15 years for the ATF (Alcohol Tobacco, and Firearms Dept) as a Civil Servant in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

He met and married Bettye Jean Baggett while they were both serving in the Air Force. They married April 7th 1951 while stationed at Ft Walton Beach Florida. They moved back to the Ft Walton Beach area to spend their retirement years together. In 2005 they decided to move to San Antonio to be closer to family.

A rosary service will be held at 9:00 am at Colonial Funeral Home, followed by interment at Ft Sam Houston Cemetery at 10:45 am on Thursday, October 11, 2012. In lieu of flowers please make your donations to the Air Force Enlisted Widows Foundation in Ft Walton Beach, FL.