Age 93, Tucson, Ariz.
Shirley Louise Spitler, 93, died on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona.
Shirley was born June 7, 1931 to Darrell and Blanche Swayze in Roswell, New Mexico, who preceded her in death, as well as her sister, Marilyn and brother, Bob.
She is survived by her husband, Joseph V. Spitler Jr., formerly of Luray, Virginia now living in Tucson, and their five children and their spouses, Kathy (Cliff) of Colorado, Kara (Robert) of Colorado, Kris of Oregon, Kim (Tracy) of Tucson and Alaska, and Dan (Ellen) of Colorado.
She leaves behind seven grandchildren, Andy (Kathryn), Cyrus, Darius, Emily (Yoni), Helen (Ryan), Jessye (Chuck) and Molly; and six great-grandchildren, Calvin, Adam, Cooper, Peter, Charlie, and Charley.
Shirley grew up in Roswell and Carlsbad and attended CU in Boulder, CO, studying journalism. She was a flight attendant for Continental Airlines in El Paso, Texas, where she met Joe who served in the U.S. Army. They were married in 1952 and the family moved all over the US, lived in England and Germany, and when Joe retired, they settled in Tucson while the kids flew the nest.
Over the years, Shirley volunteered in the kids’ schools and scouts, as moms do. Then she volunteered in her community for various activities. She went back to school at Arizona Western College in Yuma and Pima Community College in Tucson, studying archaeology and anthropology. She was a secretary at Southside Presbyterian Church, and she and Joe volunteered for Tucson Samaritans. She worked at KUAT, which she especially loved.
Shirley taught all her daughters to knit and crochet, and tried her hand at many other crafty things. She knit around 700 sweaters for Tucson school children as a member of the Fountain Knitters.
For the last year, she lived at Copper Canyon Memory Care in Tucson and struggled with dementia.
A memorial service will be held at Southside Presbyterian Church on the afternoon of May 24 at 2 p.m.
Donations may be made to Casa de los Ninos in Tucson.
We miss you very much.
Peace, Mom.
Joe and family of Shirley Spitler,
I was a fellow hiker of Joe (SAHC) and read the obituary for Shirley in the paper and want to send my condolences. She was 93yrs old!!! What an amazing life she had!! This notice I found for address says Joe is 103 yrs old. Is that possible?? We sure had some good times together!!