A Tribute

to

Irene (Spangler) Underwood

(src: Find A Grave; photo added by Randy Shepherd)

July 31, 1946 - July 18, 2007

Irene Spangler Underwood, 61, of Chesterfield, Mo., died at her home on Saturday, August 18, 2007 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born on July 31, 1946 in Fairborn, Ohio to 1st Lt. John D. Spangler and Ethel Irene Pugh. She was preceded in death by her father 1st LL John D. Spangler. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, J. Kent Underwood; their son, Scott Preston Underwood of St. Louis, wife, Sarah F. Underwood; grandsons, William and Peter; and their son, Jeffrey Kent Underwood, wife, Kay Underwood; and sons, Lane and Tyler of Greely, Colo.; her mother, Ethel Pugh Spangler Merritt and step father, Lucius M. Merritt, Sr. of Roanoke; step siblings, Lucius Merritt, Jr., wife, Brenda of Blacksburg, Mark Merritt, wife, Ardis, Martha Gibbs, husband, Tom, and Sarah Lupton of Roanoke; uncle, Leslie C. Pugh;, aunt, Joyce B. Pugh of Floyd, Va.; and cousins, John Pugh, wife, Sue of Herndon, Va. and Robert Pugh and wife, Theresa of Fredericksburg, Va.

Irene graduated from Patrick Henry High School and the Medical College of Virginia ('68) with a BSRN degree where she was a member of Sigma Zeta honor society. She was a nurse, homemaker, genealogist and accomplished author having published two family genealogical studies and co-authored the book "Nothing to Fear, Nothing to Prove: Living an Aspiring Life" whose message of renewal and spiritual growth have inspired countless readers.
Visitation will be at Schrader Funeral Home, Ballwin, Mo. on Thursday, August 23, 2007 with services at St. John Lutheran Church, Ellisville, Mo. on Friday, August 24, 2007.
Visitation and services in Virginia will be on Monday, August 27, 2007 at Mt. Elbert United Methodist Church, Floyd, Va. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. and the service will begin at 11 am. followed by interment at Sunset Cemetery, Christiansburg, Va. where she will be buried beside her father. Services in Virginia will be by Horne Funeral Home, Christiansburg.
Memorial gifts, in lieu of flowers, may be sent to St. John Lutheran Church Next Generation Ministries, 15800 Manchester Road, Ellisville, MO 63011. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.hornefuneralservice.com

Published in the Roanoke Times from 8/24/2007 - 8/25/2007.

Irene's Father provided by Jack Spangler

Irene's family provided by Jack Spangler

Irene, Kent and me March 7, 2007 at Las Ventanas at our villa

Photo provided by Allison Hall

Irene was one of the most helpful people that I had access to on the Floyd Genealogy list. we corresponded often and she had a trove of old pictures, including old school pictures that she sent me. She visited me when she was part way through her chemo treatments, and we had a good time. I will miss her a lot and my best wishes go out to her family.

Ole Paul

I have fond memories of Irene. She visited me here in a local restaurant where we had a wonderful meal, and she donated one of her books to the Fincastle Library. She was always at the top of whatever she did with excellence. She was most helpful to the other list members who had questions about ancestry. We will always remember her as a wonderful friend and VaFloyd Family member.

Rena