Obituaries

Lt. Col. Wyman Spalding was born June 8, 1918 in Chicago, Illinois into the historic Spalding sporting goods family, from the early Spalding colonials arriving in 1619 and numbering a Brigadier General of the Revolutionary Army of the United States of America amongst his direct ancestors. Nephew of the world famous violinist/composer Albert Spalding, he worked some summers on his ‘Uncle’ Keith Spalding’s Rancho Sespe in Fillmore prior to World War II, at which time he met his beloved Elizabeth Taylor of the Richardson Ranch family, who he married some 55 years later in 1992.Spalding is being remembered by people the world over who knew him as a modern renaissance man with an immensely generous heart, dashingly handsome of elegant stature and with a deeply resonant rich voice, extraordinarily gifted actor, respected military historian and collector, devoted teacher and avid scholar, decorated U.S. Army Corps officer, and as a dignified gentleman of faith and service.Spalding, a lauded Shakespearean actor, studied with Wilda Wilson Church, the originator of radio drama at radio station KGO in San Francisco and subsequently with several years of association with Reginald Pole of the original Old Vic Theatre Company. Spalding was one of the pioneers of community public radio helping in the earliest day of the first such radio station, KPFA in Berkeley. His acting, directing and playwriting, stage, radio, TV and motion pictures experience spanned more than 60 years.A man deeply committed to the values of the American heritage from which he was born, Spalding was a decorated Wing Flight Commander and flight trainer of B25s during World War II, after which he transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve serving with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was awarded a unique Commendation for Bravery from the newly formed United Nations in 1945. A passionate aviator, Spalding continued performing aerobatics maneuvers from Santa Paula’s Airport well into his 70s.A life member of the UCLA Alumni Association, he graduated from UCLA with a bachelor of arts in 1948 and continued to receive his credential in Education in 1949. He served on the board of UCLA’s Theater Arts in 1947 and 1948. He then successfully combined his great talents in the theatre arts and teaching by co-founding and managing the Theater-for-Children at the Coronet Theater, Beverly Hills with Sterling Holloway and Russ Tamblyn, launching such careers as that of Roddy McDowell. Spalding was a teacher at schools in Westwood, Los Angeles, Concord, Modesto, and for 21 years until he retired from the San Francisco Unified School District.In 1992, he married Elizabeth Taylor at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Paula, where he often served as lector and sang in the church choir led by Elizabeth, who also is the church’s lead organist and choir director. Together, they helped with the religious services every week at Twin Pines health Care Home in Santa Paula. Spalding also served as a docent for the California Oil Museum of Santa Paula. Again combining his love of teaching and acting, he volunteered with the Ventura County “SEASONS Group” (Senior Experts And Speakers On Numerous Subjects), particularly “bringing to life” U.S. Senator Thomas Bard for the young schoolchildren, which, according to a representative of the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, “enhanced the curriculum, really making an effective impact on their education.” Spalding also drove and delivered Meals on Wheels on a weekly delivery route throughout Santa Paula up until his recent illness.Wyman Spalding is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Spalding of Santa Paula; his daughter, Wilda Spalding (Barry Geller) of Encino, California and Geneva, Switzerland; his two sons, Simon Spalding (Sara) of New Bern, North Carolina and David Spalding (Jessica) of Durham, North Carolina; three grandchildren, Albert Goodwill Spalding, Susannah Frances Spalding, and Lillian Spalding; and is being fondly remembered by Elizabeth’s two daughters from a former marriage, Anne Whitefield (Briggs) of Bentonville, Arkansas and JoAnne Davidson (Gary) of Sparta Missouri and their children.Funeral services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Santa Paula on Saturday, December 11 at 11 a.m.Arrangements are under the direction of Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula.Memorial contributions can be offered and mailed to: Santa Clara Valley Hospice, 133 N. Mill St., Santa Paula, CA 93060.Death NoticesMildred I. McGinness, 87, Santa Paula homemaker, died December 2, 2004. Arrangements by Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula.Orville L. Hale, 90, Santa Paula, retired bookkeeper, died December 4, 2004. Arrangements by Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula.Teodora Equihua, 71, Santa Paula, laborer, died December 7, 2004. Service 10 a.m. December 10, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Arrangements by Funeraria del ángel, Santa Paula.