Obituary of Clarine Spetzler

I will miss Clarine’s smile every morning after walking to the mailbox to get the newspaper. She would report the day’s weather, comment on which birds were singing for her and what new flowers were coming up. She developed such an acute awareness of the joys in every day events since being diagnosed with a glioblastoma over 3-1/2 years ago. Clarine, 66, of Roanoke VA, passed away Tuesday morning, November 24, 2015. She was preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Lois Dinges, her parents-in-love, August and Maria Spetzler. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Bertram Spetzler, son, Matthew; daughter, Dr. Karli Griffeth, and her daughter and son in-loves, Jacqueline Saleh Spetzler and Dr. Will Griffeth; her foster daughter, Dr. Nhung Vu and foster son Chinda Sourinho; her grandson, Nathaniel Robert Spetzler, and her siblings, Steve Dinges and Geri Halboth. She had many Spetzler, Dinges, Halboth and Read in-loves (she didn't like the word in-laws), numerous nieces, nephews, and their children. Clarine was happiest and proudest when she was helping others. She dedicated her life to this until the end, including setting up cancer wellness classes in her last year of life. She was the first person in her family to attend college and graduated with honors, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s in Social Work, and received her Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois, Chicago. She moved to the Roanoke valley in 1980 and focused on being part of the community, helping pass the first seatbelt legislation, establishing the Children’s Trust, helping children as a CASA advocate and being on the board of numerous charities. She was also completed by the many friends she made in the Roanoke Valley, without whom she would have had much less Joy and sharing in her life. We are honored, humbled, and grateful for all of your support and thoughts through this difficult time. There will be a memorial service on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 2:00PM at the Covenant Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Children’s Trust, Apple Ridge Farm, or another charity of your choice in Clarine’s memory.