Christopher Daniel Spradlin

Christopher Daniel Spradlin passed away at his home, in Divide, Colorado, on January 10, 2026. He was 54 years old. Chris was born on September 24, 1971 to Richard Alexander Spradlin, Jr and Valerie Jean Zimmerman. Sports were always a passion for Chris, even from a young age. He excelled in every sport which he participated in, and the love of sports, and his boys, inspired his desire to coach youth sports. He especially loved spending time with his family and activities together like fishing, hunting, shooting and anything outdoors. Chris met his wife, Shelley, in middle school. They were good friends and began dating in the 11th grade and later married on August 14, 1993. Chris graduated college from Virgina Polytechnic Institute and State university with a degree in Engineering, where he spent more time playing basketball than attending classes. He worked an internship at Babcock and Wilcox, now known as BWX technologies, to help pay for college and his sporting hobbies.

Upon graduating from college, Chris decided to enlist in the US Army. It was his true calling. He was briefly in the Ranger battalion, in Savannah, GA before joining the 82nd Airbourne Division. In 1999, he went to Special Forces Selection. He would say that he got into the Special Forces back when it was hard to get in. He was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Panzer Kaserne in Stuttgart, Germany. He returned to Fort Carson, where he finished his service in the military. Chris was a soldier for 23 years, serving 17 of those years as a Green Beret. He was very proud of his country, his service and loved all of the amazing men he served with. After retiring in 2017, as a CW3 from the army, Chris was contracting still working with Special Forces in their training.

Chris and Shelley have two amazing sons, Zack and Cody. Chris was so very proud of how they have grown into such fine young men. Chris helped coach the boys' sports teams for years. Although he was deployed during much of Zack's childhood, he still made time to coach Zack's Parks and Recreation basketball teams when he was home. In more recent years, he coached or assisted in coaching Cody's football, basketball and baseball teams with Parks and Recreation. He also coached basketball at the Middle school for a year and was currently volunteering with the Woodland Park High School baseball team. He really enjoyed watching his sons play sports, loved coaching and working with the young athletes.

Chris is survived by his wife, Shelley, and his two sons, Zack and Cody. He is also survived by his father, Ricky Spradlin and step-mother Valda Spradlin, his mother, Valerie Zimmerman and step- father Gerald Zimmerman, and siblings Geoff Zimmerman and Gina Lane.

Chris is forever in our hearts and while we cannot imagine a life without him, we will continue to honor his life and legacy. To say he will be missed is an understatement. He was so deeply loved by his family, friends and brothers. Chris would have been so moved by the outpouring from his "Bros" and friends. To say thank you does not seem to be nearly enough. He truly has the most amazing friends.

A memorial will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Mountain View United Methodist Church, 1101 Rampart Range Rd, Woodland Park, CO 80863.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Special Forces foundation in Chris's name.