Alfred Spry Obituary

Colonel Alfred Earle Spry, United States Army, retired, age 79, died at his home on Tuesday, January 10th, 2012, following a courageous battle with cancer. Earle was born February 27, 1932, in Norfolk, Virginia, to the late John Paul and Clara Louise Nobles Spry. He attended James Monroe Elementary School and graduated from Maury High School in 1950, where he was elected senior class president. Growing up in Norfolk, Earle was an acolyte and Boy Scout, delivered newspapers and worked at the local library, fished and played baseball with his brother Louis. Col. Spry was commissioned as an Officer in the United States Army on January 26, 1954. He graduated from University of Omaha with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Military Science in 1963, followed by tours of duty in Korea and in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division, receiving awards that included the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. In 1974, Earle earned his Master of Public Administration from Pennsylvania State University. On September 1, 1981 he retired from the United States Army having served 29 years. On April 2, 1966 Earle married Nancy Sue Snyder in Pueblo, Colorado. Together they raised two sons and a daughter. Following his military career, they made their home in Charlottesville, Virginia where he received a Master of Arts in Government from the University of Virginia in 1984. Later Earle and Nancy moved back to the area where they had fallen in love, building a home in Colorado Springs. There, Earle taught and held the positions of Dean of Faculty at Regis University and Head of Business and Management at DeVry University, often working to highlight ways these institutions could meet the educational needs of military families stationed in the area. Continuing a pattern of caring leadership, Earle shared his love of the outdoors as Scoutmaster of Troop 1, Colorado Springs. Many a weekend found him, hiking staff in hand, exploring the trails near Pikes Peak, taking the troop as far afield as the Grand Canyon and Canada. Great was his joy to introduce new scouts to the spectacular scenery and challenge of reaching Music Pass and the Sand Creek Lakes of the Sangre De Cristo Wilderness Area. In recent months Earle drew strength and comfort from nature on daily walks in his beloved Bear Creek Park. As a member of Chapel of Our Saviour Episcopal Church, he taught Sunday school for many years, combining his gift of teaching and study of early Church history with love for the Gospel. Earle is survived by his wife, Nancy; his two sons and their wives, Louis and Carol, and Edward and Kaysie; his daughter and her husband, Anne and John Huddleston; three grandchildren, Tyler Spry and Ella and Jack Huddleston; one brother, Clifford (Kirby) Spry; as well as nieces, nephews and many friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, John, Louis and Kenneth. His family would like him to be remembered as a caring leader, a lover of nature, and a seeker of knowledge. He was a man of quick wit and humor, coupled with a sense of duty to others and a full enjoyment of poetry, literature, and "the good things in life." Funeral services for Alfred Earle Spry will be held at 1:30pm, Tuesday, January 17th, 2012, at Chapel of Our Saviour. The Rev. De Freeman, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Relatives and friends are welcome at Chapel of Our Saviour, 8 Fourth St., Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906, on Monday, January 16th, 2012 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and at the Service, on Tuesday the 17th. In lieu of flowers, memorial funds have been established in his name with the Wounded Warrior Project and Pikes Peak Hospice. We would like to thank all of the staff of the Pikes Peak Hospice and Chapel of Our Saviour for their help and support.