Spangler, Elizabeth Hribal

Elizabeth Hribal Spangler, 84, of Pearisburg, passed away Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital in Pearisburg.

A lifelong musician, she was a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music where she was a soprano soloist in the Oberlin Conservatory Choir. She was also a soloist in the Heights A Capella Choir in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and was a member of the Cleveland Philharmonic Chorus.

After completing graduate work at Case Western Reserve University and the University of Virginia, she was professor of music at Hiwassee College, Emory and Henry College, and the American School in Cali, Colombia, South America.

Most notably, she helped organize the music program in the Giles County Public School System, where she taught for 19 years. As a public and private instructor of voice, piano, organ, and numerous church choirs, she shared her love of music with young and old alike.

Mrs. Spangler was a member of the Rainbow Girls’ Eastern Star, Retired Teachers Association and the Woman’s Club of Virginia, serving as district president and state chairman. She was also a member of the Pearisburg Presbyterian Church for 57 years, the Giles Country Club for 50 years, and helped organize the volunteers at Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Spangler loved to read, play bridge and travel.

She was preceded in death by her father, Dr. W.F. Hribal and mother Josephine J. Hribal of Cleveland, Ohio. She is survived by her husband, Marion Lee Spangler of Pearisburg; sons and daughters-in-law, Gregory Lee Spangler and Katherine Booker of Roanoke, Dr. Pat Wayne Spangler and Marguerite White Spangler of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; two grandsons, Dr. Marion Lee Spangler II of Westchester, N.Y., and Nicholas White Spangler of Grand Forks, N.D.; one sister, Ruth Hribal Klasek of Strongsville, Ohio; and a sister in-law, Helen Spangler Rucker of Troutville.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 20, 2006 at Birchlawn Abbey in Pearisburg with the Rev. David Snyder officiating. The family will receive friends at Birchlawn Abbey from 10 a.m. until the service hour. The family requests that those sending memorial contributions, please consider the Pearisburg Presbyterian Church, 114 Easley Street, Pearisburg, Va. 24134, or the Pearisburg Public Library, 209 Fort Branch Road, Pearisburg, Va. 24134. The family is being served by Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows. Online condolence messages can be sent to the family at www.riffes.com.