Obituary of Louis A. Spain

Louis Albert Spain was born on August 11, 1922 in Scott, Arkansas, the third of 5 children born to Walter Spain, Sr. and Leaner Austin. As a young child, Louis' family moved to Chicago seeking a better life for their family. He graduated from Wendell Phillips High School in 1942. Louis attended Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana and graduated with a degree in Sociology in 1946. It was here that he met the love of his life, Edith Verdun. They were married in Chicago in 1947 and raised 5 children. Louis obtained his Teachers Certificate from Chicago Teachers College in 1953 and taught in the Chicago Public Schools. He obtained a Masters of Education from DePaul University in 1961. He retired from the Chicago Board of Education as the Principal of Austin High School in 1983. Louis and Edith moved to Washington State in 1996 where he resided in Lakewood until his passing. He was an active member of St. John Bosco Church and the Knights of Columbus. Above all, Louis loved family and was the pillar of his large extended family, always stepping in to help when he was needed. No one who met Louis could forget the charming, articulate man who loved children and constantly urged them to succeed in their studies. Louis was preceded in his passing by his parents, Walter and Leaner, his siblings, Leola, Herman, Odessa, and Gloria, and his cherished wife of 61 years, Edith. He leaves behind his children, Louis, Jr., Anne Marie, Loren, Ellen, and Claire, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held at Piper-Morley Funeral Home 253-472-3353 Today, Sept-ember 28 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. John Bosco Church in Lakewood on Monday, September 30 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Louis' name to MultiCare Hospice through MultiCare Health Foundation at PO Box 5296, Tacoma, WA 98415-0296 or at https://www.multicare.org/foundations/gift-2