1923
George
2009
George Wyatt McSpadden
January 25, 1923 — February 27, 2009
George Wyatt McSpadden, 86, a lifelong resident of Amarillo, passed away at the Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center on February 27, 2009.
George was born January 25, 1923, to the late Richard Lee and Nina Bennet McSpadden. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1940 and, after World War II began, joined the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in both England and Belgium, where he performed damage assessment on a variety of aircraft. After the war, he and his brother Richard Lee (Dick) returned to Amarillo to run the family business, Central Grocery. A gregarious soul, George enjoyed the friendships he formed with his many regular customers and fellow tradespeople, He was always ready to swap stories and news. In 1951 he married Betty Starker. They had four children, and all inherited their dad's outgoing nature.
In the mid-seventies, as giant chain stores began to threaten locally owned shops, George left the grocery business to try his hand at photography. McSpadden Church Pictorial Directories combined George's genuine love of people with his artist's eye. He also became an avid painter. His love of the form came from his mother, and he polished his skills by studying under many local teachers, beginning with Lewis Nugebauer. Artist Jack Sorenson became an especially close friend and used George as his model for his charming series of "Grandpa" paintings. George belonged to the Panhandle chapter of the Professional Photographers of America and at one time served as its president. He was also a long-standing member of the Amarillo Table Tennis Club and was a member of Hillside Christian Church.
In 1992 George married Ollie Longbine, a fellow painter. Together they spent many years exploring and enjoying their art. Both took classes in oil painting and also taught the subject themselves. Ollie stood by George during times of good health and bad, and her loving care will never be forgotten by George's family and friends.
George is survived by his wife, Ollie, and her six children; and his children, Wyatt McSpadden and wife, Nancy McMillen, of Austin; Holly McSpadden and husband, Cliff Toliver, of Reeds, Missouri; Laurie McSpadden of Amarillo; and Drew McSpadden and wife, Karie Lynn, of Cedar Park. Others mourning his loss include his eight grandchildren; his brothers, Dick and Bill; his nieces and nephews; and many friends and fellow artists whose lives he enriched. George was preceded in death by his sisters Mary Ann Vaughn and Mildred McSpadden.
The family extends great thanks to the medical and hospice staff at the VA Center for their help during a difficult time.
George was born January 25, 1923, to the late Richard Lee and Nina Bennet McSpadden. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1940 and, after World War II began, joined the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in both England and Belgium, where he performed damage assessment on a variety of aircraft. After the war, he and his brother Richard Lee (Dick) returned to Amarillo to run the family business, Central Grocery. A gregarious soul, George enjoyed the friendships he formed with his many regular customers and fellow tradespeople, He was always ready to swap stories and news. In 1951 he married Betty Starker. They had four children, and all inherited their dad's outgoing nature.
In the mid-seventies, as giant chain stores began to threaten locally owned shops, George left the grocery business to try his hand at photography. McSpadden Church Pictorial Directories combined George's genuine love of people with his artist's eye. He also became an avid painter. His love of the form came from his mother, and he polished his skills by studying under many local teachers, beginning with Lewis Nugebauer. Artist Jack Sorenson became an especially close friend and used George as his model for his charming series of "Grandpa" paintings. George belonged to the Panhandle chapter of the Professional Photographers of America and at one time served as its president. He was also a long-standing member of the Amarillo Table Tennis Club and was a member of Hillside Christian Church.
In 1992 George married Ollie Longbine, a fellow painter. Together they spent many years exploring and enjoying their art. Both took classes in oil painting and also taught the subject themselves. Ollie stood by George during times of good health and bad, and her loving care will never be forgotten by George's family and friends.
George is survived by his wife, Ollie, and her six children; and his children, Wyatt McSpadden and wife, Nancy McMillen, of Austin; Holly McSpadden and husband, Cliff Toliver, of Reeds, Missouri; Laurie McSpadden of Amarillo; and Drew McSpadden and wife, Karie Lynn, of Cedar Park. Others mourning his loss include his eight grandchildren; his brothers, Dick and Bill; his nieces and nephews; and many friends and fellow artists whose lives he enriched. George was preceded in death by his sisters Mary Ann Vaughn and Mildred McSpadden.
The family extends great thanks to the medical and hospice staff at the VA Center for their help during a difficult time.
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