SPANE

MOUNT AIRY — Mr. Gail Lyman Spane Sr., 92, of Mount Airy, passed away at the Woltz Hospice Home on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. He was born in Surry County on Oct. 28, 1920, the son of the late Andrew Spann and Vera Davis Spane. He attended school in Rochester, N.Y., and was first employed with IBM as a customer service engineer in New York City before returning to Mount Airy. Gail was self-employed as an electronics and television technician. He served in the U.S. Naval Air Corp during World War II. He was shot down in a Liberator bomber over North Africa and was one of three flight crew members that survived the crash. Gail returned on a hospital ship to Norfolk Naval Hospital where he spent many months recuperating. After the war, Gail married the former Helen Maxine Hines of Mount Airy. In addition to his parents, Gail was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Kenneth K. Jones Jr. and his brother, James Spann. Gail is survived by his devoted wife, Helen, of 67 years of the home; one daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Gary Kniskern; and two sons and daughters-in-law, Gail Jr. and Sue Spane and John and April Spane, all of Mount Airy. He is also survived by six grandchildren and spouses, Jennifer and Kelly Epperson, Scott and Andrea Kniskern, Alex Spane and Helen Spane, all of Mount Airy, Lisa and John Foster of Winston-Salem and Candace and Josh Hazelwood of Hempstead; and six great-grandchildren, Max and Sam Foster of Winston-Salem, Abby, Hal and Jill Epperson and Chase Kniskern of Mount Airy and Isabelle Hazelwood of Hempstead. Gail is also survived by one sister and brother-in-law, Libby and Larry Tilley; and a brother, Gary Spann of Elkin. Gail Spane was a member of Grace Moravian Church and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. Special thanks to the staff at Golden Living-Surry Community Nursing Center and the Hospice staff at the Woltz Hospice Home. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Grace Moravian Church with the Rev. Anthony Hayworth presiding. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Howell Funeral Home of Mount Airy has been assisting the Spane family. Memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030.