SPEARS, Josephine (Miller)

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Prominent Woman Died
Saturday Following
Operation––Burial
At Greenlawn

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Mrs. Josephine Miller Spears, widow of John V. Spears, well known Franklin women[sic], died Saturday night at 10 o’clock at the Methodist hospital in Indianapolis from shock following a major operation. Mrs. Spears was taken to the hospital last Tuesday, and on Wednesday it be­came necessary to operate. She never regained consciousness.

The body was brought to the Van­divier funeral home here, where funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, with burial in the family lot in Greenlawn cem­etery. Services will be in charge of Dr. Alexander Sharp, Indianapolis, interim minister of the First Pres­byterian church.

Friends may call at the mortuary Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 o’clock and any time before the funeral They are invited to attend the funeral services.

Many Relatives Survive

Mrs. Spears was the last member of a large family of seven children of John Nicholas and Sophia Chris­tiana Miller. She was born in this city October 28, 1870, and with the exception of a year spent in Indian­apolis had lived here all of her life. She was married in 1888 to John V. Spears, whose death occurred in February, 1936.

Four children born to them sur­vive, all of whom were at their mother’s bedside when she passed away. They are Roscoe Spears, owner of the Franklin Hatchery; Merle D. Spears, own­er of the Spears Auto­motive Supply of Franklin; Ches­ter Spears, court reporter of the Delaware county circuit court at Muncie; and Mrs. Glenn M. Seitz of this city.

Five grandchildren also survive, including Pfc. Charles R. Spears, now in service in Italy; Mrs. Estel Coy, of Edinburg; John Spears, of Franklin; Pt. William E. Spears, stationed at Fort McClellan, Ala.; and Robert and Ida Jo Spears, twins of Muncie. Two great-grandchildren also remain.

Mrs. Spears was a sister of the late Mrs. Anna Trefflich and Samuel D. Miller, prominent Franklin merchant. Eight nieces and nephews survive, including Mrs. O. I. Demaree and Mrs. Herman Tucker of this city.

Mrs. Spears life had been one of love and devotion to her family, and following the death of Mrs. Merle Spears eight years ago she had cared for her grandson, William Spears, in her home. Her large home was open at all times for the entertainment of her friends, and the large family gath­erings had become a tradition in the family.

Active In Church

For the last 20 years and until the past year, the annual Christmas party of the Women’s Bible Class of the First Presbyterian church had been held in her home, and these festive occasions had been one of the out­standing features of the class.

She had an absorbing interest, in her church and its organizations, and for the last 15 years had served as president of the Women’s Bible Class. It was an interesting coin­cident that she united with the First Presbyterian church of this city just 57 years ago today, January 15, 1888. She had been a faithful member all of these years and had seen all of her children become members of her church. She was active in the Circle of the church, being vice-president this year. She was an active member of Tri Psi sorority.

Leaves Many Friends

Since the death of her husband. Mrs. Spears had been owner and manager of the Franklin Cement burial Vault plant in this city, and successfully managed her other business interests.

The passing of Mrs. Spears re­moves a member of this community, who will be missed by friends and neighbors because of her kindly ways, generous impulses and interest in their lives, and her life will always be a loving memory to all who were privileged to know her.

Submitted by Robert Lee