Charles Dennis Spurlin

Charles Dennis Spurlin. Age 81, passed away Thursday, August 15, 2013. He was born August 4, 1932 in Franklin, Texas to the late Robert Jerry “R.J.” and Effie Mae Freeman Spurlin. He grew up in Mart, Texas, where his father and maternal grandfather, Charlie Mills Freeman, operated a grocery and meat market. In 1950, he graduated from Mart High School. While in high school, he served as president of the local chapter of the Future Farmers of American and earned second team all-district honors as a tight end.

After high school, he attended Texas Technological College for a year before enlisting in the Army. While in the service, he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Purple Heart. After returning to the Unites States from Korea, he was stationed in Washington State where he met Patricia Agnes Liston in Des Moines, Washington. The couple married on November 26, 1953, and had five children (Cynthia Ann, Debra Sue, Charles Jr., Preston David, and Steven Michael). Upon completion of his military duty, he reentered Texas Tech and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956.

For the next four years, he worked at various jobs, but in 1960, he became a teaching assistant at Sam Houston State Teachers College while working on his master’s degree. In 1961, after attaining his master’s, he was employed by Victoria College where he taught classes until 2003. While at Victoria College, he served as a chairman of the Social Sciences Department and Director of the Local History Collection in the VC/UHV Library. He inaugurated the Mystery History series published in the Victoria Advocate. He held various positions in local, state, and regional historical organizations. He is the author of several historical articles and books. Among his local achievements, he assisted in the establishment of the Victoria Women’s Softball Association and was a major factor in bringing the first women’s state softball tournament to Victoria. He was also a Mason.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Liston Spurlin; children, Cynthia Ann (Sam) Pena of Austin, Debra Garner of Victoria, Charles D. Spurlin Jr. (Antoinette) of Surfside, Preston David (Cheryl) Spurlin of Richardson, and Steven (Sharon) Spurlin of Cypress; sisters, Ruth Spurlin and Virginia Spurlin, both of Mart; twelve grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Francis Spurlin.

Visitation will be held 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, August 16, 2013 at Colonial Funeral Home.

Family graveside services will be held 10:00 am Saturday, August 17, 2013 at Evergreen Cemetery with the Rev. Tim Williams officiating. Full military honors will be held under auspices of Victoria County Veterans Council, AL, CWV, VFW, DAV, MCL, MOWW, Ex-POW, MOPH, VVA and the KWV.

Serving as pallbearers will be Preston D. Spurlin, Charles D. Spurlin III, Rex D. Garner, Stephen M. Spurlin, Trevor J. Spurlin, and Terrence B. Spurlin.

Memorial may be made to the Charles and Patricia Spurlin Scholarship Fund at Victoria College.

Words of comfort may be shared with the Family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com