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Ralph Spinner
Retired Lieutenant Colonel C. Ralph Spinner Jr. died September 11, 2018. He was 83.
Born in McKenney, Virginia, to Rev. C. Ralph and Marion Spinner, he grew up in Southampton and attended Southampton Public Schools, where he excelled both academically and athletically. A star track and field, football and baseball player, he was scouted by the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Lt. Col. Spinner chose instead to pursue a college education, enrolling at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. It was there that he met Bettye who would become his wife. A popular student at Hampton, he was Basileus of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and president of the Pan Hellenic Council. He played saxophone and toured with the Royal Hamptonians Jazz Ensemble.
Following his graduation in 1958 with honors from Hampton University’s School of Engineering and Architecture, he applied his ROTC training to service in the U.S. Army where he was a highly decorated officer. While in the military he earned a graduate degree in logistics management.
After 22 years of service, which included tours of duty in the continental United States as well as in Europe and Asia, he retired from active duty and settled in Willingboro, New Jersey, where he and his wife raised three children. He was an active member and elder of the Presbyterian Church of Willingboro, an elder in the Session, and was instrumental in setting up the church library.
In addition to his parents, Lt. Col. Spinner was predeceased by a brother, Larnie Spinner; and sisters, Elaine Anderson and Jean Spinner.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Bettye; a sister, Hortense Gordon of Southampton; a daughter, Kay Thompson of Georgia; two sons, C. Ralph Spinner III and Stephen Spinner, both of Phoenix; nephews, Ted Gordon of Southampton and Tony Gordon of Connecticut; four grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends spread across the country.
A funeral service was held on September 18 at the Presbyterian Church of Willingboro, followed by interment with full military honors at the Brigadier General Wm. C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, New Jersey.
on Sep 25, 2018