Obituary for James Conrad "Blackie" Spangler
James Conrad "Blackie" Spangler, 92, passed away February 18, 2021. Born in Peterstown, West Virginia to the late Phillip Mack and Louise Rushbrooke Spangler. Blackie worked as a conductor/brakeman for the Norfolk & Western Railroad. Blackie’s crowning achievement and his passion was southern gospel music. He was a founding member of the Joy Quartet and the Tidewater Gospel Music Association. He and his popular group sang in Hampton Roads, throughout Virginia and up and down the eastern seaboard. In the late 1960s they gave away hundreds of neon green bumper stickers proclaiming PTL (Praise The Lord), the first to promote those iconic letters. His quartet also sang on many shows in the early days of WYAH-TV, the precursor to CBN.
Leaving his beloved West Virginia in 1948, he served in the US Navy on LST-551. Homeported in Little Creek, Virginia, his ship participated in the Pacific H-Bomb test, passed through the Panama Canal and rode the waves of the choppy North Atlantic near Greenland. Leaving the Navy in 1955 as an Engineman First Class (EN1), he spent the next 33 years with the railroad until he retired. He was a deacon at Indian River Baptist Church and taught the Joy Sunday School Class for many years. He also shaped many young men’s lives as a Royal Ambassador leader.
Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 69 years, Mildred W. Spangler; three children, Randall Spangler (Nancy), Vicki Addison (James) and Sharon McCoy (Jay); three grandchildren, Krystal Noble, Rachel Adams (Tom) and Sarah Chenault; great-grandchildren, Christian, Connor, Harley and Kameron; and a host of other family and friends.
Friends are welcome to pay their respects at Graham Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1112 Kempsville Road, Chesapeake, on Monday, February 22, 2021 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. A service to celebrate his life will be held Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Bert Kirk officiating. Due to COVID restrictions temperature checks and masks will be required to enter the building; seating is limited for the service. Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to view the service and to leave a condolence to the family. He will be laid to rest at Rosewood Memorial Park, Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Union Mission Ministries at: donate.unionmissionministries.org
Leaving his beloved West Virginia in 1948, he served in the US Navy on LST-551. Homeported in Little Creek, Virginia, his ship participated in the Pacific H-Bomb test, passed through the Panama Canal and rode the waves of the choppy North Atlantic near Greenland. Leaving the Navy in 1955 as an Engineman First Class (EN1), he spent the next 33 years with the railroad until he retired. He was a deacon at Indian River Baptist Church and taught the Joy Sunday School Class for many years. He also shaped many young men’s lives as a Royal Ambassador leader.
Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 69 years, Mildred W. Spangler; three children, Randall Spangler (Nancy), Vicki Addison (James) and Sharon McCoy (Jay); three grandchildren, Krystal Noble, Rachel Adams (Tom) and Sarah Chenault; great-grandchildren, Christian, Connor, Harley and Kameron; and a host of other family and friends.
Friends are welcome to pay their respects at Graham Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1112 Kempsville Road, Chesapeake, on Monday, February 22, 2021 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. A service to celebrate his life will be held Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Bert Kirk officiating. Due to COVID restrictions temperature checks and masks will be required to enter the building; seating is limited for the service. Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to view the service and to leave a condolence to the family. He will be laid to rest at Rosewood Memorial Park, Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Union Mission Ministries at: donate.unionmissionministries.org