Harriet Catherine Sprinkle

HARRIET CATHERINE DORAN SPRINKLE

Harriet Catherine Doran Sprinkle of Springfield, VA, passed away Sunday evening, March 6, 2005, in Silver Spring, MD, following pneumonia. A year has now gone by since then. Catherine was born November 4, 1918, in Indianapolis, IN, to Harry W. and Mary Angeline Hunt Doran. She was a member of Center Friends Meeting and a graduate of Decatur Central High School, where she enrolled in every course except Boys' Shop and earned an "A" in each. She went on to Indiana University, where she graduated with a major in Psychology and a minor in French; she was later a member of the American Association of University Women. After college, she worked at the Culver Military Academy and on January 16, 1943 married Lieutenant Commander Leland Wilfred Sprinkle, USN, of Bethesda, MD, a mathematician, pioneer computer scientist, classical organist, and, ultimately, builder of the world's largest musical instrument, the Great Stalacpipe Organ of Luray Caverns, VA. She taught public school, for many years fifth grade, in Fairfax County, VA. She was an accomplished seamstress and an expert on antique furniture, especially early American household implements and farm tools, as well as Persian rugs. She was preceded in death by her husband, after 47 years of marriage, and also by her elder sister, Jewel Doran Lieby. Survivors are two sons, Dr. Leland W. Sprinkle, Jr., of La Jolla, CA, and Dr. Robert Hunt Sprinkle, of University Park, MD; three grandchildren, Brian, Alice, and Andy; and twin younger siblings, John Doran and Mary Doran Palmer. Services were Friday, March 11, 2005 at the Bradley Funeral Home and Christ Episcopal Church, Luray, VA. She provided lovingly for all and is missed fondly by each.