CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI-Irene Spangler Underwood, 61, died at her home 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 Lt. John D. Spangler.
She is survived by: her husband of 39 years, J. Kent Underwood; son, Scott Preston Underwood of St. Louis, wife, Sarah F. Underwood; grandsons, William and Peter; son, Jeffrey Kent Underwood, wife, Kaye Underwood; grandsons, Lane and Tyler of Greely Colorado; mother, Ethel Pugh Spangler Merritt; 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; cousins, John Pugh, wife, Sue of Herndon, Robert Pugh, wife, Theresa of Fredericksburg. 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, with services at St. John Lutheran Church, Ellisville, Missouri on Friday, August 24.
Visitation and services in Virginia will be Monday, August 27, at Mt. Elbert United Methodist Church. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. and the service will begin at 11 followed by internment at Sunset Cemetery in Christiansburg, where she will be buried beside her father. Services in Virginia will be handled 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