Underwood, Irene Spangler
Irene Spangler Underwood, 61, of Chesterfield, Missouri, died at her home on Saturday August 18, 2007 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born on July 31, 1946 in Fairborn, Ohio to 1st Lt. John D. Spangler and Ethel Irene Pugh. She was preceded in death by her father 1st LL John D. Spangler.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years J. Kent Underwood; their son Scott Preston Underwood of St. Louis, wife Sarah F. Underwood, grandsons William and Peter; and their son Jeffrey Kent Underwood, wife Kay Underwood and sons Lane and Tyler of Greely Colorado; her mother Ethel Pugh Spangler Merritt, and step father Lucius M. Merritt, Sr. of Roanoke, step siblings, Lucius Merritt, Jr., wife Brenda of Blacksburg, Mark Merritt, wife Ardis, Martha Gibbs, husband Tom, and Sarah Lupton of Roanoke; uncle Leslie C. Pugh, aunt Joyce B. Pugh of Floyd, Virginia and cousins John Pugh, wife Sue of Herndon, Virginia and Robert Pugh, wife Theresa of Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Irene graduated from Patrick Henry High School and the Medical College of Virginia (‘ 68) with a BSRN degree where she was a member of Sigma Zeta honor society. She was a nurse, homemaker, genealogist and accomplished author having published two family genealogical studies and co-authored the book “Nothing to Fear, Nothing to Prove: Living an Aspiring Life” whose message of renewal and spiritual growth have inspired countless readers.
Visitation will be at Schrader Funeral Home, Ballwin, Missouri on Thursday, August 23, 2007 with services at St. John Lutheran Church, Ellisville, Missouri on Friday, August 24, 2007. Visitation and services in Virginia will be on Monday August 27, 2007 at Mt. Elbert United Methodist Church, Floyd, Virginia. Visitation will be at 10:00 am and the service will begin at 11:00 followed by internment at Sunset Cemetery, Christiansburg, Virginia where she will be buried beside her father.
Services in Virginia will be by Horne Funeral Home, Christiansburg. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be sent to St. John Lutheran Church Next Generation Ministries, 15800 Manchester Road, Ellisville, Mo. 63011.