Jerry Burse Spain's Obituary
Jerry Burse Spain was born 07/27/1939 in Levelland, TX to Archie and Sue Spain and passed away on 10/01/2016. The family moved to Bakersfield, CA when Jerry was six months old, and he lived there until retirement. He accepted Christ as his personal savior and was baptized as a teenager. After graduating from Bakersfield High School in 1957, he joined the navy in 1959, serving on the USS Constellation as a maintenance engineer until his honorable discharge 1963. Jerry joined the Bakersfield Fire Department where he made many close friends and retired in 1992 after 27 years of service. While working there, he took fire science classes at Bakersfield Community College. After retirement, Jerry moved to Keller TX, where he joined First Baptist Church and Keller Mason Lodge #1094. He was a 32nd degree Mason of Ft. Worth Scottish Rite. He and Becky moved to Sachse, TX in 2012, and joined Arapaho Baptist Church in Garland, TX. Jerry is survived by Rebecca, his beloved wife of 40 years; son Thomas (girlfriend Deborah) of Wofford Heights, CA and Quartzsite AZ; sisters Glenda Wigginton and Donna Spain of Bakersfield, CA; niece Suzanne Wigginton (Jack Coulehan) of Ontario, CA; nephew Andy (Shannon) Wigginton of San Ramon, CA; aunt Maurine Hale of Rockwell TX; cousin and friend Robert (Nancy) Spain of Lubbock, TX; niece Tamara (Nate) Richer; nephew Lin McLaughlin; and many beloved cousins in Texas and California. He was preceded in death by his parents and his cousin, Fred Shults, who was like a brother to him. Jerry and Becky received many expressions of help and comfort from family members and friends during his illness. Jerry’s most evident spiritual gift was the capacity to be a friend, and he was generously repaid in kind. Becky’s family was especially close to provide support in times of need: Sisters Bobbie and Mildred and brothers Michael and Don. Special thanks to Suzanne Wigginton and Tamara and Nate Richer for their tremendous help during Jerry’s final hours. Service will be held on Thursday, October 6, 2016, at 11 am in the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home at 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted into Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75243.
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