Norman M. Spiva

Norman M. Spiva passed away January 22, 2012 at the Westminster Senior Living Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina at the age of 95. He was born November 1, 1916 in Stella, Missouri, the oldest child of the late Clyde and Ressie Lewis Spiva. A 1938 graduate of Southwest Missouri State College, Mr. Spiva worked part time for Dun & Bradstreet while a student. After graduation, he began what was to be a 36 year career with D & B starting at the Little Rock, Arkansas office as a report writer. In 1944 he was transferred to Louisville, Kentucky as District Reporting and Service Manager and six years later he was promoted Regional Service Manager in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1956 he was transferred to New York City as the manager of Methods & Equipment Research where he was instrumental in the planning an implementation of the first computer system for D&B. After retiring in 1973, Mr. Spiva moved back to Little Rock where he enjoyed traveling, gardening and fishing. In 1989 he moved to South Carolina to be near his daughter and her family. He liked to attend local high school football and college basketball games in Rock Hill and in his later years became interested in genealogy research, writing several extensive resumes on his Spiva and Lewis ancestors. All of this research has been donated to the Wilkes County Genealogical Society at the Wilkes County Library in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. He was also an avid ham radio operator for over 50 years and enjoyed building much of his own equipment. Mr. Spiva was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years, Maurine McCright Spiva, and his two brothers, Edwin Dean Spiva and Thurman Spiva. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Ann Hinson, and her husband, Richard Jones Hinson, of Rock Hill, South Carolina; his "favorite" granddaughter, Stephanie M. Hinson, of Brooklyn, New York; his sister, Cleo Cook of Neosho, Missouri; as well as many nieces and nephews. As long as his health permitted, Mr. Spiva was active in churches wherever he lived, teaching Sunday School and serving in numerous other ways. He was currently a member of Oakland Baptist Church in Rock Hill. Always grateful for the education he received from his alma mater, he established a student scholarship at what is now Missouri State University, formerly Southwest Missouri State University. Norman will be missed by all who knew him. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a good neighbor and friend to many—often described as "a real gentleman." Visitation will be Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, (501) 224-8300. A celebration of Mr. Spiva's life will be Friday, January 27, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Salem Cemetery. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.