Sandra Erelene Spake

Sandra Erelene Spake
August 26, 1935 – May 2, 2025
Sandra Erelene Spake, beloved sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, educator, friend and mentor to many passed away on Friday, May 2 in Spring Hill, Florida. She is now (most definitely) in Heaven, catching up with family and friends who went before her, surrounded by dancing partners, having a grand time, and enjoying a whiskey sour – but only one, well, maybe two.
We celebrate her life. She will be missed and fondly remembered for always being ready for the next adventure, be it a trip to Europe or a yard sale. She rarely sat still; she was always and forever a moving force – just call me "go-go" she often said.
She was quick to laugh and slow to criticize. Sandra was a lady of faith whenever and wherever faith was needed, which was often. Her life was not always easy, but she overcame adversities, stubbornly determined to make the very best of her circumstances. And she did exactly that.
Sandra was born in Largo, Florida in 1935 to Lorena Starbuck, a stunningly beautiful woman and antiques dealer who was decades ahead of her time. Sandra inherited her mother's passion for life, love of painting, the desire to laugh whenever possible, and her mom's downright awful panache for home decorating (bright, aqua-colored kitchens and fuzzy red wallpaper).
Her mother and stepfather, Robert Kersey, raised Sandra and two younger siblings in Pendleton, South Carolina. After Robert's contributions to the development of the United States' guided missile program during World War II, he became a tenured engineering professor at Clemson University where he taught until his death. Sandra helped take care of her younger stepsister Barbara (her much beloved "Cooter") and her stepbrother Robert in their boisterous household. Sandra started undergraduate school at Lander College but, as typical of the times, got married instead of finishing her degree.
Sandra met her first husband William ("Bill") Tinsley while working at the Rexall Drug store "on the Square" in Pendleton. Bill had recently returned home to the family farm in Pendelton from the Korean War. They married in 1956 and had three children – Karen, Bill (Jr.) and Rebecca. For Bill's job with the FAA, the growing family moved to Louisiana and Alabama for several years. Eventually, they were able to move back to Anderson, South Carolina to be near their extended families.
After returning to South Carolina, Sandra completed her undergraduate degree at Clemson University. She began teaching at Lakeside Junior High School in Anderson and subsequently obtained a master's degree from Clemson. In addition to English, Sandra taught special education at Lakeside for many years and helped hundreds of disadvantaged or challenged children learn to read. She also taught English at several local colleges. Meanwhile, she raised her three children, carting them around to music lessons, church, and many other activities. She was always present at her children's school and church functions. All three children attended college – two obtained advance degrees. Sandra sacrificed for her children and always put their needs above her own. Nonetheless, she never, ever complained – not about anything. Never. Sandra saw the "sunny side" of most situations and the better side of most people.
Sandra's first husband died in 2001 after a prolonged illness. In 2003, she married Robert Spake of Anderson who, like Sandra, had lost his spouse. Sandra and Robert had both attended Pendelton High School – Robert was a year or two ahead of Sandra and his sister and Sandra had been best friends in high school. By 2003, Sandra and Robert were retired, and their children were grown. They traveled and visited their relatives. They were active in their church.
They were a well-matched couple. Robert liked to bake cakes. Sandra liked to eat them. Both enjoyed gardening and eating lunch at local "hole in the wall" restaurants. Robert liked to dance or at least pretended he did. Sandra took full advantage of her retirement years to paint, read and crochet – her passions. She painted so many pictures that she had to give them away because she had run out of wall space to hang them. (No one ever accused her of being a good artist, but she was quite prolific!) Robert had to start moving her books to the garage because her collection was taking over the house. She was always crocheting something (but no one could figure out what). Sandra didn't care. She finally had time for herself, and she did what she wanted, maybe for the first time in her life. Those were good years.
By 2020, Robert's health began to fail, and Sandra developed dementia. Despite Robert's significant health issues, he kept Sandra at home and made sure she was safe and well attended. Robert deserves our deepest gratitude for all he did for Sandra. He died of a heart attack in their home in 2022.
After Robert passed, Sandra moved back to Florida within 50 miles of where she was born. She lived at The Residence at Timber Pines. According to her wonderful caregivers, she took advantage of every activity. She was first in line to have fun, and she never complained. Never.
Sandra is survived by her: half-sister, Barbara ("Cooter") Gurly; three children, Karen, Bill (Jr.), and Rebecca; Bill's wife Hope Tinsley; grandchildren, Kurt Ling, Erik Ling, Ola Helsing and Ashley Gallagher; and great grandchildren, Allen Ling and Wren Gallagher. Her smile and enthusiasm for life will be remembered.
Donations can be made in Sandra's memory to Owl's Nest Sanctuary For Wildlife: http://owlsnestsanctuaryforwildlife.com
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