Richard H. (Dick) Spingler, 99, passed away Friday, December 1, 2017 at Presbyterian Manor of Topeka, Kansas.

Richard was born June 4, 1918, to Harry and Margarita Spingler in Brooklyn, NY where he spent his early life.  He graduated from Erasmus Hall High School, Brooklyn, and was a member its track team, in 1937.  He attended New York City University.  He took flying lessons and received his pilot’s license in 1940.
Mr. Spingler was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force prior to Pearl Harbor. 

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he returned to the United States and completed his pilot training.  He flew 53 missions as a B-25 pilot in African, Italian, and Aegean Sea Campaigns of World War II.  He received the European Theater of Operations medal, a pre-Pearl Harbor Medal, several Air Medals, and a Presidential Citation from President Franklin Roosevelt.  He received the Hellenic Commemorative Medal and Certificate from the Hellenic Republic in appreciation of his participation in the defeat of Germans in Greece.

Upon returning from combat, Mr. Spingler married Nedra Way at Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1944.  Among other bases during his military service, he was stationed at Marshall Field, Fort Riley, KS, where his son Richard Jr. was born, and where he flew “The Brass” on military business and was part of a team of pilots who participated in air shows around the U.S.

Following his discharge from active duty in 1948, he worked for several auto dealerships before acquiring the Buick agency in Holton, KS, where the family lived in the 1950’s.  They moved to Topeka in 1960 and he worked as a State Farm Agent for 27 years.  Also during the 50’s and 60s, Mr. Spingler kept up his training in the Air Force Reserves.  He retired from the military as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1978 after 28 years of service.  Following his retirement from State Farm at age 70, he worked in property management for Ralph Lewis Enterprises for 12 years.

Mr. Spingler was a former member of the Holton Rotary Club, past-president and life member of the Southwest Optimist Club, Vice President and Skeet Director of Capital City Gun Club, a member of the Kansas State Skeet Shooters Association receiving their Friend of Skeet Award in 1995.  He was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Holton, Ks.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Audrey Woltz and her husband Harry of Elyria, OH.  

He is survived by Nedra, his wife of 73 years; a son, Richard Jr. and his wife Charlene of Florence, KY;  a step-granddaughter, Angela Waltz of Kansas City, MO; two granddaughters: Melanie Miner, her husband Greg, and their sons Luke and Finn, of Maineville, OH; Rylan Bender, her husband Nick, and their son Barron, and daughter Baylor, of Union, KY; a nephew David Woltz, Oketo, WI; and a niece Diane Woltz, Bellvue, WA.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 7, 2017 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton, Kansas. Burial with full military honors will follow at Holton Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be given to the Presbyterian Manor c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, Kansas 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.