Myrtle L. Spearman's Obituary
Myrtle Louise Spearman, 93, of Memphis, died on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at her home with her husband by her side. Born October 6th, 1918 in Benton, Arkansas, daughter of Hilma Elizabeth and Erick Anthony Lindstrom. She attended Benton Elementary and Little Rock High School. She was awarded a fellowship studying Medical Technology at the University of St. Louis, Missouri and later employed at University of Tennessee for a government research project. She was asked by her employer to assist him to study a substitute for quinine in the fight against malaria when he was awarded a post at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Until WWII was over in 1945, she was employed by the Baptist Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee to aid Dr. Edeledorf in newborn research. Myrtle married Cecil Dwight Spearman on February 28th, 1947 at the First Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, giving birth to Sally (1951), Martha (1952), and Janie (1954). In 1960, she became a school crossing guard for the city of Memphis for 25 years as well as a First Aid Instructor. Myrtle was a member of First Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee for over 63 years, active in their Sunday School. She was an excellent cook and seamstress for her family and loved her pet cocker spaniel, Charlie Jo. Myrtle enjoyed playing bridge at the Raleigh Senior Center after her retirement. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Sally, and survived by her husband of 64 years, Cecil Dwight, daughters Martha Bentley (Ross) of Gilbertsville, PA, Janie Anderson (Doug) of Whitewater, WI. and grandchildren: Alex Bentley, Max Bentley, Jake Bentley, Eden Bentley, all of Gilbertsville, PA, Brenna Anderson of Minneapolis, MN, Cooper Anderson of Whitewater, WI, Maeghan Rosenberg of Memphis, TN, Daemien Rosenberg of South Carolina, and 4 great-grandchildren; Sally and Brittany Rosenberg and Kayleigh and Owen Bentley. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 Thursday, April 21 at the Memorial Park Funeral Home. Family will receive friends from 12:30 pm to service time at 2:30 pm. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, (901)-767-8930,”Behind the Stone Wall”.
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