Alva Elberta Hartman Spellman
Alva Elberta Spellman was born Aug. 5, 1915, in Karnes County, to the late Edward F. and Lula Lee Cobb Hartman. She departed this life on March 6, 2010, at the age of 94.She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband of 49 years, Dr. Clyde D. Spellman; two sons, Dr. Dennis C. Spellmann and Royce F. Spellman; sister, Thelma Billings; and brother, Edward F. Hartman, Jr.
She is survived by her sister, Joyce Davis of Victoria; children, Betty Detmer and husband Sonny of Jourdanton, Dixie Guyer and husband Alan of El Campo, Janet Hooper and husband David of Portland, and Jon Spellman and wife Sherry of San Antonio; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Raised in the rural community of Mound Creek, Alva graduated valedictorian of her class in Mound Creek and then in Nixon. She married Clyde Spellman in 1934. They moved with their two sons to El Campo in 1942 to open the Spellman Chiropractic Clinic. Alva was a Methodist, a member of the Eastern Star, and counted the founding of the Association for Retarded Children in El Campo and helping the handicapped as one of her life's greatest achievements. She was a loyal and caring friend, a loving mother and grandmother, and will be missed by all who knew her and welcomed by those who preceded her.
Visitation will begin noon, Monday, at Triska Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Joyce McCormick officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. at the Spellman Cemetery in Nopal.
Serving as pallbearers are her grandsons, Earl Spellmann, Ty Detmer, Koy Detmer, Justin Guyer, Jonathan Hooper and Wes Spellman.
Honorary pallbearers are her great-grandsons.
Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of El Campo or to the Order of the Eastern Star.
Triska Funeral Home, 612 Merchant St., El Campo, Texas.