Donald E. Sperline

Donald Eugene Sperline, 88, of Puyallup, Wash., passed away on Feb. 9, 2008, after a long battle with heart disease, having survived bypass surgeries in 1977 and 1990. He is survived by Betty (Keim), his wife of 65 years, at their home.

Don was born July 22, 1919, at the Sperline homestead in East Wenatchee, the 11th of 13 children born to John and Minnie (Phillipi) Sperline. He was raised in the Church of the Brethren, where he knew Betty from childhood. He graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1936, and from Laverne College (Calf.) with a bachelor's degree in education in 1942.

Shortly after receiving his degree, Don married Betty and was promptly conscripted into military service. Consistent with the pacifist tenets of their faith, Don was recognized as a conscientious objector; he served his country in the European theater as an X-ray technician in the Army Medical Corps for over two years, being honorably discharged in 1944.

Don and Betty began their family and their careers in education in East Wenatchee. Don taught at Rock Island School, and later in St. John, Washtucna and Moses Lake. From about 1959 to 1969, Don left education to operate Ping Electric in Ephrata with his partner and nephew, Bob Ping. After 10 years in business, Don enrolled at age 50 in a master's degree program at Central Washington University. He received a degree in Audio/Visual Sciences and finished out his working life as the Director of A/V Services for the Moses Lake School District.

After retirement, the Sperlines relocated to the Puget Sound area, spending 15 years as snowbirds in California and Yuma, Ariz. They are members of Puyallup United Methodist Church.

Don was active in Kiwanis International for many years, as a member of Moses Lake and Ephrata clubs. He served as President of Moses Lake Kiwanis in 1974-1975, and later as Lt. Governor of Division 52. He was a lifelong photography enthusiast, and enjoyed golf, hunting, and rv'ing.

In addition to Betty, Don is survived by their five children, Judy Walsh (and Tony) of El Paso, Texas; Tom (and Andrea) Sperline of Soap Lake; David (and Sue) Sperline of Redmond; Evan (and Linda) Sperline of Soap Lake; and Eric (and Leslie) Sperline of Renton. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by his eight brothers and four sisters.

A ceremony of interment with military honors will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash. on Friday, Feb. 15; a Memorial Service will follow on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2 p.m., at the Puyallup United Methodist Church, Dr. Jim Lewis presiding.