Erin E. Spade, Wichita
Erin E. “Sam” Spade died Tuesday, April 24, 2007, of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 82.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Broadway Mortuary in Wichita.
The son of Van E. and Itis Blackwell Spade, he was born May 22, 1924, at the family farm home near Admire. He graduated from high school in 1942 and worked at Boeing Airplane Co. in Wichita before he joined the Army Air Corps, where he was assigned to the 376th Heavy Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. He flew his full complement of missions as a ball turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator stationed in Italy. Discharged at the end of the war with the rank of staff sergeant, he earned his bachelor’s degree and later, his master’s degree at Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia (now Emporia State University).
He married Phyllis Leroux in 1948 at Preston. She survives.The family has lived in Wichita since 1956.
After 10 years with Boeing flight test, Mr. Spade went into business as owner and operator of ACE Commercial Environment Services and most recently was an independent courier.
Mr. Spade was a 32nd degree member of the Masonic Lodge.
He is also survived by three daughters, Jo Belt of Scottsdale, Ariz., Sue Spade of Kansas City, Kan., and Dee Spade Wall of Wichita; two sisters, Loie West of Emporia and Vada Harmon of Ordway, Colo.; and two grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Kansas Humane Society.