Donald Spradlin

Donald Ray Spradlin, age 78 years, 2 months and 26 days, passed away Tuesday, October 3, 2017 in Riverdale, Georgia. Funeral services were held Friday, October 6, 2017 at 7:00 pm at the Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home with Bro. Hap Strunk officiating. Burial was in the Grigsby Chapel United Methodist Church cemetery. Don was born July, 7, 1939 in Smithtown, Kentucky, to Arnold Spradlin and Opal (Bell) Spradlin. Don was the last survivor among his siblings. Upon graduation from high school, Don enrolled in business college in Knoxville, Tennessee to study accounting. This is where he met his wife of nearly 60 years, Billie Lovelace. The couple were married March 28, 1958. They went on to have four children, Donald Ray Spradlin Jr. and his wife Deanne, of Hogansville, Georgia, Denise Hall, and her husband Robert, of Glen Allen, Virginia, Debra Johnson of Palmetto, Georgia, and Dale Holt, and her husband Kenneth, of Acworth, Georgia, and eight grandchildren each with a nickname Don called them by, Kenneth “Whistle” Hall, and his fiancée, Casey, Katie “Katy-did” Johnson, Shannon “Shady-did” Green, Carolyn "Baby Ruth" Hall, Rebekah “ Bud” Hall, Lee Johnson and his wife, Lynne, Kristy Rodgers and her husband, Zeb, and Dale C., five great grandchildren, Tanner and Ashlyn Johnson, Tyler and Alyssa Rodgers and Lucas “Baby Ray” Green. All of whom survive, along with his dear wife, Billie, sisters-in-law, Wanda Lovelace, who lived with Don and Billie for 36 years, and Kathalene Hurst, also many cousins and friends. Don is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Linda Lincoln, son-in-law, Kenneth Johnson "KJ", and a niece, Dawn Lincoln. Don was proud of his family and proud of his thirty five year career with Delta Airlines where he was a fleet planner with the L1011 aircraft team. Don was also a member of the Crouches Creek Baptist Church in Jellico, Tennessee. He and Billie enjoyed travelling and being with their family. Don also enjoyed keeping his lawn and garden. Don was a one of a kind, good natured man that became friends with everyone he met. We treasure his memory and take comfort in the assurance of his testimony of being a born again Christian.