John Spang

Columbus, OH Obituary of John Francis Spang

John Francis Spang, or "Mr. Spang" as he will forever be known to his students, of Columbus, OH passed away at Bickford Upper Arlington assisted living on August 23, 2025 from the impact of a stroke he suffered in May. Mr. Spang was born in Cambridge, OH to Russell E. and Frances M. (Quill) Spang on April 22, 1941. He was reared in Coshocton, OH where he graduated in a class of 9 from Coshocton Sacred Heart High School in 1959. Mr. Spang graduated from Ohio University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and a teaching certificate. He earned a Master of Arts degree in teaching from Miami University in 1971.

Mr. Spang began his career teaching chemistry, physics and general science for one year at Allensville High School followed by 8 years at Vinton County High School, working summers with the Youth Conservation Corps from 1974 to 1980.

He paused his teaching for one year to work as a chemist manufacturing dynamite(!) for the Austin Powder Company in Vinton County, followed by another year with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Mr. Spang returned to teaching when he joined the science faculty of Watkins Memorial High School where he taught chemistry, physics and general science for 20 years. He enhanced his teaching throughout his career by attending science education workshops at various Ohio universities. Mr. Spang retired from Watkins Memorial in 1996. He worked part-time from 1984 through 2005 for Team Management Inc., owned and operated by Mr. Spang's then life partner, Chuck Belding.

The profound impact of Mr. Spang's teaching is demonstrated by the admiration and gratitude he received over the years from former students. One of his physics students nominated him for the Watkins Memorial Distinguished Faculty Hall of Fame, to which he was inducted in 2019. Mr. Spang received numerous letters and cards from students thanking him for the preparedness his teaching gave them for college and their careers. Perhaps the best demonstration of Mr. Spang's connection with his students is their visits to him after his stroke.

Mr. Spang was a founding member of the Licking County School Employees

Federal Credit Union. He served on the board of directors for nearly four decades, and retired from the board of what is now TrueCore Federal Credit Union.

From 1992-2016, John was very involved with serving homeless neighbors at New Life United Methodist Church in Columbus, OH. He daily chose food items online for his weekly pickups at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. John even kept a small truck just for that purpose. Back at the church, he prepared food to refrigerate for Sunday morning's breakfast served to 100-200 people. John attended the church as well, always open to new ways to serve those in need.

John is preceded in death by his parents and brother Thomas. He is survived by his spouse Steven Lawton of Columbus, OH, brother Timothy Spang (Elaine) of Sarasota, FL, sister Rita (James) Shaw of Ft. Myers, FL, sister Barbara (Landers) Bonenberger of Wheeling, WV, niece Hilary (John) McElroy of Coopersburg, PA, niece Missy Brannen (Rico Mason) of Ft. Myers, FL, niece Abby Schannep (Danny) of North Manchester, IN, nephew Tim Spang Jr. of Ft. Wayne, IN, 8 great nieces and nephews and former life partner Chuck Belding (Doug Miller) of Columbus, OH.

John enjoyed traveling, with his camera always at the ready. He particularly admired the US national parks, especially those in Utah, Montana and California. He loved the diversity of spring wildflowers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the stark desert beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. John traveled by air, land, river and sea to Ireland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), French Guiana, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. He and his spouse Steve loved vacationing in Palm Springs, CA where they were married on April 2, 2014 after a 3-year relationship.

John was very fond of classical music, particularly opera, and subscribed annually to the Columbus Symphony Orchestra for over 40 years. He supported The Nature Conservancy for many years, as hiking in the natural world was a favorite activity. Please consider donating to The Nature Conservancy as an alternative to sending flowers. Mr. Spang would approve.

John's memorial service will be held Friday September 26th at 12:00 noon in the chapel located at the Ohio Cremation and Memorial Society, 5464 N. High Street, Columbus, OH. Visitation begins one hour before the service at 11:00 am. The service will be co-officiated by Reverend Karen Nothdurft of Cape Girardeau, MO, and Reverend Jennifer Casto of Columbus, OH. John's memorial service can be viewed live on the Ohio Cremation & Memorial Society Facebook page. It will remain accessible at that same site after the service. John's cremains will be buried with his parents at a private ceremony for immediate and extended family at South Lawn Cemetery in Coshocton, OH on September 27th at 10:30 am.

A celebration of John's life is scheduled immediately after his memorial at 1:30 pm in the Clintonville Women's Club, 3951 N. High Street, Columbus, OH. Food will be served at John's celebration, which requires the number of attending guests. Please inform Steve Lawton (stevelawton23@live.com) by September 15th if you will attend the social event and include the number of guests in your party.

Better than a thousand days of diligent study

is one day with a great teacher.

Japanese proverb

John Spang