Charles Leon "Sweets" Spires

Thursday, April 14, 2005 at 2 p.m. at Waters Funeral Chapel in Vandalia, Missouri.
Officiating will be: Rev. Tom Barnhart.
Music provided by: Jeannie Spires, soloist.
Interment will be in the Vandalia Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Charlie Spires, Patrick Norris, Paul Dobbs Jr., Randall Gilman, Lloyd Fischer and Melissa Gilman.

Charles Leon "Sweets" Spires passed away at 12:53 p.m., Monday April 11, 2005 at the Tri-County Care Center in Vandalia, Missouri. Mr. Spires was a Vandalia High School graduate and served in the U. S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. He retired from Harbison-Walker Refractories in Vandalia on December 31, 1994, after over 31 years of service. He worked as a tow truck operator and got the nickname "Sweets" because he like sodas and candy bars while at work. "Sweets" also farmed in the area and was a Christian by faith.

Born: August 31, 1931 in Bellflower, Missouri the son of Kay and Parthena (Smith) Spires.

Married: Norma Ruth Mills on August 20, 1966; she preceded him in death on August 27, 1998.

Survivors include: one son, Charles L. "Buster" and wife, Jeannie Spires of Frankford, Missouri; three daughters, Janice and husband, Joe Gilman of Auxvasse, Missouri; Kristy and husband, Lloyd Fischer of Laddonia, Missouri; Gail and husband, Paul Dobbs of Brandon, Mississippi; three brothers, Gene Spires and Bill Spires both of Vandalia; Donnie Spires of St. James, Missouri; two sisters, Magdalene Hamlett of Vandalia and Wanda Hobkirk of Vicksburg, Mississippi; two stepsons, Ricky Reed of Laurie and Tony Reed of St. Louis; three stepdaughters, Becky Early, Barbara McIlhatton and Lucy Girard all of Vandalia; 11 grandchildren, 13 stepgrandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and 18 stepgreat-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by: two sisters, Sharon Hendricks and Mary Francis Spires.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the church of the donor's choice.