Charles R. Spiller Jr., 85
Charles R. Spiller Jr., 85, of Sandpoint, Idaho, passed away Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, at Life Care of Sandpoint.
Charles “Chuck” Spiller was born Oct. 21, 1923, in Los Angeles, Calif.; the son of Charles R. Spiller Sr., and Regina Roberts Spiller.
Both of his parents were originally from Montana and Chuck was raised and educated in West Los Angeles, Calif., graduating from Hamilton High School in 1941.
Immediately upon his graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army, qualified for the Army Air Corps and served during World War II.
Upon being honorably discharged from the Air Corps he came home and held two jobs to support his family.
He soon attracted the attention of the prestigious insurance firm E. Brooks Randall & Son in Beverly Hills where he began his business career.
After five years he struck out on his own to form his own agency, which he eventually moved to Newport Beach, Calif.
In the early 1970s, he began his second career as a real estate broker and land developer, which was the profession that he loved and in which he became very successful.
It was in Newport Beach that he met Joyce Waltze, and after a whirlwind courtship they were married in Las Vegas in 1983. This marriage resulted in the uniting of two loving families.
The couple enjoyed 26 years together much of which was spent traveling in an RV. Chuck was adventurous and their travels took them the length and breadth of North America from the Mayan pyramids to the Arctic Circle. They discovered Sandpoint in 1992 and built their dream house on Pine Street in 1993.
During the middle 1950s he became involved with Little League baseball by supporting his sons’ involvement as players and eventually became manager of the team.
One of the members of that team went on to enjoy a successful career in the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox.
He also served as president of the entire West Los Angeles Little League and was instrumental in getting a water line put under the 405 freeway(during its construction), which to this day serves the West Los Angeles Little League and Pony League fields from the Veterans Administration property at no cost to the league.
Chuck was an avid baseball fan especially rooting for his beloved Dodgers, and listening to the voice of Vin Scully broadcasting when he was unable to attend the games.
He enjoyed sports fishing, which kept Chuck and Joyce returning to Mexico and Alaska for many years.
The game of golf was another of his accomplishments, even hitting a hole-in-one at the Hidden Lakes course a few years ago.
No matter what he enjoyed or in what he was involved his greatest pleasure was his family. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren have retained a close relationship with their beloved grandfather and he has been a guiding force in many of their lives.
In addition to his wife, Joyce of Sandpoint, he is survived by three sons, David Spiller of Sacramento, Calif., Phil (Ann) Spiller of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Joe Spiller of Dallas, Texas; three step-children, Lori Brewster and her husband Bob Powers and Mike (Alyssa) Waltze, both of Maui, and Todd (Annette) Waltze of Los Gatos, Calif.; a sister, Teresa Stoker of Huntington Beach, Calif.; a brother, Robert (Midge) Spiller of Davis, Calif.; 19 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, John; and a sister, Joanne.
Family and friends are all invited to an informal gathering at the family home, 10624 Pine St., on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, from 2-4 p.m.
Family and friends are invited to sign Chuck’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.