Richard served four years in the United States Army as a Parachute Rigger during the siege in Khe Sahn, Vietnam. He later attended college to study English.
Richard was an adventurous outdoorsman. He climbed mountains in Colorado Springs, fished for salmon in Alaska, was a professional logger in Washington state, raised cattle in Colorado and Missouri. Richard worked fifteen years with the Merchant Marine as Engineer/Wiper, on a NOAA ship. He even worked retail in the Mountain Chalet in Colorado Springs.
On January 1, 2012 he was united in marriage to Katherine Young in a private ceremony in the presence of their children. Then again in an official ceremony on May 29, 2022. Richard loved deeply and lived life to its fullest. Every day spent with him was an adventure. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Phyllis J. Miller Spangler and Paul Junior Spangler and one brother.
Richard is survived by his wife, Katherine Diane Young, of the home, a daughter, Amber Lynn Croft of White Plains, Kentucky, a son, Christopher Croft, of Stockton, Missouri, a daughter, Ruby Bristol, and her husband Zachary, of St. Roberts, Missouri, a son, Alexander Wilson and his wife Sarah Hill, of Jefferson City, Missouri, a son, Aidan LeGrande and his wife Amaya Spring, of Overland Park, Kansas, four grandchildren; Alena Munro and Raylen Munro, of St. Roberts, Missouri and Makenzie Croft and Grayson Croft, of Stockton, Missouri.
Graveside Services for Richard “Spanky” Spangler will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, June 5, 2023 at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri.
