Doris Rushton

Doris Spradlin Rushton PORTSMOUTH - Doris Spradlin Rushton (Mrs. Edward D. Rushton) passed away in the comfort of her home early Sunday morning, Nov. 7, 2010. She had lived a remarkable life, and had reached the age of 85. Born Doris Mabel Spradlin on March 10, 1925 in Madison Heights, Va., she loved walking on the beach and Broadway shows, Clark Gable and writing in her diary. She had a beautiful, caring spirit and dedicated her life to helping others. She attended elementary, middle and high school in Madison Heights before graduating from E.C. Glass High School in 1943. That same year, she began her studies at the University of Virginia and thus embarked on a 52-year career in nursing. In between was a stint with the U.S. Cadet Nurses Corps during World War II, and a BS degree in nursing from her beloved University of Virginia. After graduation from UVA, she became head nurse in the pediatric department of the University of Virginia Hospital and was then made night supervisor, a position she occupied until 1954. From 1954 until 1959, she held the position of educational director at Lynchburg General Hospital and upon moving to the Tidewater area, accepted a position of instructor of nursing at Obici Hospital in Suffolk. She was also clinical instructor for the Norfolk General School of Practical Nursing before moving to Chesapeake Center for Science and Technology in 1973 as a nursing instructor. In the end, she had dedicated more than 50 years to the joy of the nursing profession and in 1996 was inducted into the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Society of the University of Virginia, recognizing her 50 years of service to that hallowed institution. She was a member of The Woman's Club of Portsmouth, the Emblem Club of the Supreme Order of Elks, the National League of Nursing, the Virginia, Norfolk and Chesapeake Educational associations and was a charter member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church. She is survived by many who will miss her dearly. Among them is her husband, Edward D. Rushton; sons, Donald Edward Rushton and wife Pat, of Lorain, Ohio and John Spradlin Rushton, and wife Joy of Lewisville, N.C., and a daughter, Mary Katherine Rushton Dewing, and husband Andrew of Suffolk. She is also survived by her brother, Thomas Robert "Bob" Spradlin and sister-in-laws Lillian Spradlin of Virginia Beach, and Helen M. Spradlin of Richmond.  Surviving grandchildren are Nicole Rushton Shinsky of Sheffield Lake, Ohio, Casey Rushton Lehner of Boca Raton, Fla., Kendall Marianne Rushton of Virginia Beach, Bronwyn Kennedy Rushton and Braedon Kidd Rushton of Lewisville, and Edward Hunter Pleasant Dewing, Hannah Doris Potter Dewing and Katherine Drew Virginia Dewing of Suffolk. Doris is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Holly Rushton and Lexi Beasley of Sheffield Lake, and many beloved nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her loving and supportive parents, James William Spradlin and Mabel Christine Kidd Spradlin and her older brother, James William "Jay" Spradlin Jr. A funeral to celebrate Doris' life will be held Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Loving Funeral Home, Churchland Chapel. Entombment will follow in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens, Suffolk. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Online condolences and Mrs. Rushton's guestbook may be signed at www.lovingfuneralhome.com.