Frank L Spangler

Newton
Frank L. Spangler, 89, died on Sunday, March 19th, 2017 at the Newton Medical Center.
He was born on February 21, 1928 in Newton, Kansas to James Ward and Mary Ellen (Reber) Spangler. Frank was raised on a small farm west of Newton. He graduated from Newton High School in 1945. Frank stayed close to home and tended to the farm and caring for his parents.
On March 28, 1948 Frank married Geneva Haynes in Newton, KS. She died October 18, 1998.

Frank continued farming for the first five years he was married to Geneva. Following that he worked for 10 months in the elevator construction industry and eventually joined the fire department.
Frank set the bar high and was not a stranger to “always pulling on his boot straps” as he had many goals he wanted to accomplish. He went on to hold positions with the Gas Service Co., First Federal Savings and became President of First Bank of Newton.

Although Frank was successful in his professional accomplishments, he had many other strong and admirable qualities. He was noted as being a hard worker, and very active within the community. He had a servant style leadership, and took pride in helping the people of Newton. He held many leadership roles professionally and within his church.

Frank served as a cub master, and was on the Boy Scout committee; served as a member of the Kansas Association of Wildlife State Board for several years; member of the former Newton Jaycees; former member and president of the Newton Lions Club; held a lifetime membership with Chamber of Commerce and served as their President in 1983-1984.; served as chairman of the Bethel College Newton Businessmen’s Advisory Board. He also was active with the educational areas within Newton. He was a former president of the Newton USD 373 Board of Education, and served on the Tri County Board of Central Kansas Area Vocational-Technical School in 1972-1973.

In 1993, at the age of 65, Frank retired as the President of First Bank. He cared for his wife 50 years who later moved to the Kansas Christian Home, where Frank had long ties, serving on the board for more than 20 years, and as a corporate secretary for the facility.
In 1996 Frank received the Outstanding Citizen of the Year award for Harvey County. He was quoted saying “I didn’t think I was equal to what some of the previous ones had been. It will be tough to keep that image. I have to live up to that.” And, Frank did just that. He will be missed greatly by his family and a host of friends and community members.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife Geneva D. Spangler, and three siblings, Louis Spangler, Lois Williams and Margaret White.
Survivors include two sons; Ron Spangler and wife Phyllis Buchele, Lawrence and their two sons, Bryan Spangler, Seattle, WA and Julian Spangler, Savannah, GA, and son Kendall J. Spangler, Hutchinson, KS.

Visitation will be on Friday, March 24th,2017 from 2:00 P.M. -7:00 P.M. with the family greeting from 6:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 25th at 10:00 A.M. at Salem United Methodist Church in Newton. Pastor Ron Kite will be presiding.

Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.

In Lieu of flowers, please make donations payable to the Central Kansas Community Foundation.