C. E. "Pappy" Spear, Jr.

Following a brief illness, Mr. C. E. “Pappy” Spear, Jr., 89, of Spencer, passed away peacefully at the North Carolina Veterans’ Home on Thursday, September 26, 2013. Mr. Spear was born November 9, 1923 in Commerce, Georgia. He was one of five children born to Clifford Edgar Spear, Sr. and Ruth Reynolds Spear. He was educated in the public school system of Jackson County, Georgia and graduated from High School in 1941. Shortly after graduating from High School, Mr. Spear moved to Spencer and it would become his lifelong hometown. He began working as a boilermaker for the Southern Railway System at the Spencer Shops in 1942. He married his wife, the former Julia Newman Pierce, on March 28, 1946 and he was inducted into the U. S. Army on May 21, 1946. He served in Japan with the designated Occupational Specialty of “Lineman Telephone & Telegraph” and he received the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged from the Army on June 5, 1947 Following his discharge, Mr. Spear returned to his work as a boilermaker with the Southern Railway System and he continued to perform this function until the Shops moved from Spencer in 1960. After a brief stint as a boiler inspector for a Charlotte insurance company, he and his brother-in-law (the late Lawrence G. Grubb) founded a Spencer-based boiler repair and metal fabrication business known as Industrial Repairs Company. They operated this business as principals until 1986, and Mr. Spear retired on December 31 of that year. Mr. Spear was a civic-minded individual who served his beloved hometown of Spencer in various capacities. He served as an Alderman on the Town Board from 1965 until 1977, and he served as Mayor from 1977 until 1991. He was again elected to the Town Board as an Alderman in 1997, and he served until his retirement from public office in 2009. Mr. Spear gave 25 years of volunteer service to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in numerous capacities, including that of Mechanical Volunteer. He proudly noted that “…I’ve done everything from drive the train on down.” He played a role in the site’s original selection as a State Historic Site and he was also one of the original members of the Board of Directors of the Museum Foundation. Mr. Spear was also a Past President of the Rufty-Holmes Senior Center and a Past Master (and 50-year member) of Spencer Masonic Lodge No. 543. Mr. Spear was a longtime member of Central United Methodist Church in Spencer and served in various capacities. He chaired many Church Committees and served as a Past Chairman of the Board of Stewards. Until recently, he had continued to teach a Senior Men’s Sunday School Class. He was also an avid golfer and a longtime fan of American Legion Baseball. In addition to his wife of 67 years, Mr. Spear’s survivors include their son Samuel Edgar Spear, their son’s wife Linda Williams Spear, and two grandchildren, Courtney Elizabeth Spear and Nathan Andrew Spear. He is also survived by a sister, Mabel, who lives in Commerce, Georgia. Visitation: Visitation will be from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM Saturday evening at Summersett Funeral Home in Salisbury. The family will be at the residence at all other times. Funeral Service: The service will be at 2:30 PM on Sunday, September 29, 2013 at Summersett Funeral Home in Salisbury. A graveside memorial service will take place afterward at Chestnut Hills Cemetery in Salisbury. Memorials: Memorials may be made to the North Carolina Transportation Museum, or to other charitable causes of the donor’s choice.

C. E. "Pappy" Spear, Jr.

November 9, 1923 - September 26, 2013