Richard Carl Spangler (Dick) was born in Seattle on April 7, 1931 to Carl William and Julia Wittkowsky Spangler. He passed away in Tacoma at the age of 84 on May 2, 2015, a victim of ALS.
Dick grew up in West Seattle and graduated from West Seattle High School in 1949. While a teenager he joined Westside Presbyterian Church and was active with the youth there. During his teens, Dick was a newspaper carrier for the Seattle Times for five years. He was active in bowling, basketball, and softball for the Times. After enjoying being a member of the Sea Scouts, in 1948 Dick joined the Naval Reserve. Dick served with the active Navy during the Korean War on the destroyer escort USS C.T. O'Brien (DE 421) and the destroyer USS Benham (DD796) serving on the East Coast and in Europe from 1951 to 1953 as a yeoman and lay chaplain. In retirement he continued being active with the USS Benham Association and its reunions.
From the Navy, he went to Seattle Pacific College where he met his future wife, Margaret Wubbena, in a college mathematics class. He also completed a Master of Education degree from Seattle Pacific and a Master of Arts in Teaching in mathematics from Reed College in Portland, Oregon.
Dick taught in elementary and junior high school for 10 years in Kelso Washington. Then the next five years, he taught mathematics at Lower Columbia College in Longview where he started the first community college mathematics learning center in the State of Washington. In 1971 Dick started a mathematics learning lab (now called MARC) at Tacoma Community College. While at TCC, he worked with major publishers as a reviewer, consultant, and author. He was the author of twenty-two mathematics books used across the US. In 1978 he became head of Developmental Education, (basic skills, and literacy) at TCC and was active in literacy and developmental education associations.
His three "kids" and four grandkids have all picked up his love for mathematics. Both sons (Mike and David) and daughter (Carole Spangler-Vaughn) all have degrees and careers in engineering, science, and business. Grandchildren include three granddaughters and one grandson.
Dick retired in June 1993 and enjoyed cruising with Margaret to many interesting places all over the world. They were married one month short of 60 years.
Donations in his memory may be sent to the ALS Association, Evergreen Chapter, 11915 68th Avenue South, Suite H-105, Kent WA 98032-2110; Tacoma Community College Foundation, 6501 South 19th Street, Tacoma WA 98466-9901 or the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Box 21906, Seattle WA 98111-3906.
At the graveside service on Thursday, May 7 he was placed beside his parents at the Greenwood Memorial Park.
Published in The West Seattle Herald Section of The Westside Weekly May 22, 2015
