ARVIN D SPEARS

Arvin Dewitt Spears was born the 25th day of March, 1929, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Edgar Lee and Dessie Mae (Dalton) Spears. The Lord called him home on the 29th day of October, 2017, at the age of 88.
Arvin spent most of his early years in Science Hill, Kentucky. On August 9, 1946, at the age of seventeen he enlisted into the United States Army where he served for six years in the Criminal Investigation Division and the Military Police. He was sworn in the U.S. Air Force September 1, 1953, and was the Surface Transportation Superintendent when he retired as a Master Sargent (MSGT) on August 31, 1968. While in the military, he attended a variety of schools and took many courses. One of the schools he attended was Senior Non-Commission Officers Academy and graduated in the top 10% of his class.
After retiring from the USAF, Arvin and Dorothy made the decision to make San Antonio, Texas, their home. He worked for several different companies like Firestone, Handy Andy and the Base Exchange until he was hired on October 1, 1973, as a clerk for the US Postal Service. Arvin knew the zip codes to every street in San Antonio. If asked where something was, Arvin would tell you what zip code it was in. A friend shared that every once in a while he would receive a letter with a little message on it from Arvin. He retired from the Postal Service on April 22, 1988.
Arvin loved sports and especially baseball. One of the highlights of his life was attending a baseball clinic in Munich, Germany in 1950, where he met Stan (The Man) Musial, Yankee Jerry Coleman, Freddie Hutchinson and Umpire Al Barlick of the National League. That same year he managed the Munich Broncos and won the Eucom Championship.
When Arvin returned home from Germany in 1952 and met a young blonde (that is how he describes her but she says brunette) with green eyes in October 1952. Her name was Dorothy Mae Snyder. They fell in love and married on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1953. They had 3 children, Dennis Jeffrey, who passed away shortly after birth, Karen Rae and Phillip Dewitt.
Arvin was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason for over 50 years. He was a member of the American Legion and Veteran of Foreign Wars and a 100% disabled veteran. He was commissioned by the governor of Kentucky a "Kentucky Colonel". (And no, he couldn't fry chicken.)
Most will remember Arvin as a dedicated Christian. He was very active in the church and over the years he has served on every committee at the church. He was ordained a deacon in 1964 while being stationed in Bermuda. He served as vice chairman and chairman of deacons in several churches he attended. For over 50 years he taught and lead Bible classes to people of all ages. He served with missionaries in Korea and Japan. He also taught classes about the Baptist faith, what Baptist believe and Baptist history. He developed the New Members Course of Instruction in 1998 and in 2004 wrote a booklet on "How To Live a Successful Life" for new Christians and those wanting to understand Christianity. In addition to teaching, Arvin served in other areas of the church. He was active in the outreach program. He visited the sick. He helped clean the church building in preparation for Sunday Worship. He developed and trained teams of tellers that were responsible for recording and depositing money given to the church. Arvin loved his church because he loved his God.
Those that went before him are: Parents – Edgar and Dessie Spears; Son – Dennis Jeffrey; Brothers – Otis, Lawrence, Edgar Jr., Everett and John Spears; Sisters – Martha Singleton, Beulah Brawley, Christine Morgan, Zelma Weisbrodt, Jolene Robinson and Anna Jean Keller.
Those awaiting the call: Wife – Dorothy; Daughter – Karen and husband Scott Kliewer; Son – Phillip and wife Diana Spears; Granddaughters – Amanda Kliewer-Demers & Daniel Demers; Allison Kliewer-Reeves & Sean Reeves; Kayla & Daniel Hone; Kelsea & Aaron Cook; Grandson - Kramer & Jenna Spears; Great Grandchildren: Lauryn, Hailey, Jamiee, Olivia, Audrina, Dedan, Broden, Nolan, Aaryn & Dawn; Sisters – Bernice & Ray Spears, Betty & Bob Dye and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera Road on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. A funeral service will be conducted at 9:00 A.M. Wednesday, at Calvary Hills Baptist Church, 910 W. Loop 1604 78251 with Rev. Randy Houston officiating. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with Air Force military honors.