Billie SPELL

SPELL, Billie Calvin, U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.), 88, a resident of Covenant Woods in Mechanicsville, Va., died on February 14, 2012. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gladys and William; brother, John; sister, Eloise; the love of his life and wife of 66 years, Helen; and son, Bill. He grew up in south Georgia. Billie entered the Navy at age 18 and, after flight training, was commissioned an Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator in 1943. Durng World War II, Captain Spell participated in the campaigns of Luzon, Leyte, and Iwo Jima. Captain Spell survived the sinking at Iwo Jima of the U.S.S. Bismark Sea, where he served as a signal officer. He was one of the few persons to witness the raising of the Flag on Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima. Fittingly, he assumed command of the U.S.S. Suribachi in 1967. He was awarded the Silver and Bronze Stars. Other Navy assignments included flight squadron commanding officer in Miramar, Calif. and serving with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C. before retiring in the early 1970s. Over his lifetime, Billie's family marveled at his shift from military-style toughness to a gentleness that was at his core. Billie is survived by a daughter, Susan (Dale Abrahamson), of Kansas City; his son's wife, Elizabeth of Richmond; a sister, Betty, of Atlanta; granddaughters, Ashley (Chris Einolf), of Chicago, Eliza and Molly, both of Richmond and Katie (TJ Trum), of Kansas; as well as great- grandchildren, Beatrice and Henry, of Chicago. He is remembered fondly as well by communities at Covenant Woods and Lake Gaston, N.C. Inurnment at a future date.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.