Mary Lou (Cline) Spear Walsh
February 23, 1926 — May 6, 2018
Mary Lou (Cline) Spear Walsh, 92, of Mishawaka, passed away Sunday, May 6, 2018 at Heritage Point in Mishawaka.
Mary Lou was born February 23, 1926 in Mishawaka to the late George W. and Mary Alice (Wood) Cline. She married Robert L. Spear, Jr. on September 25, 1946 at St. Joseph Church, Mishawaka. They celebrated 51 years of marriage before his passing in 1997. In 2000, she married Dr. William Walsh and they were married for seven years before his passing in 2007.
Mary Lou is survived by two sons, Rodney L. (Patricia) Spear and Ted G. Spear; four grandchildren, Rodney L. Spear, Jr., Brian Casey (Brooke) Spear, Ted Jordan (Jacqueline) Spear and Ashley E. (Philip) Smith; and two great grandchildren, Gabriel and Viviana Spear.
Mary Lou was a 1943 graduate of Mishawaka High School. She was employed by her father, a Pharmacist, at Cline’s Drug Store, across the street from Mishawaka High School. After raising her two sons, Mary Lou worked for Miles Laboratories, later Bayer, as a Flavor Research Assistant and retired after 15 years of service.
Mary Lou was a member of Queen of Peace Parish in Mishawaka, the South Bend Elks Club, Mishawaka Alumni Association and Red Hat Society. She loved to shoot skeet at the South Bend Gun Club. Mary Lou loved to travel abroad with her son, Rodney, and daughter-in-law, Patricia, who surprised her and Robert with a trip to Paris, France for their Golden Wedding Anniversary. After Robert’s passing, she accompanied them to Greece, Turkey and London and also on an Alaskan Cruise in 2011.
Mary Lou was a model for several South Bend Department Stores and on a local radio show and was the lead Majorette in the Mishawaka High School Marching Band.
Per Mary Lou’s request, cremation was chosen. She will be laid to rest next to her parents at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Mishawaka.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Carol and the staff at Harbor Light Hospice and also to the staff at Heritage Point.
Those wishing to honor her life may make a donation to the Humane Society of St. Joseph County.
Arrangements are under the care of Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, Mishawaka.
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