Wilbur "Bud" Jennings Spaite, Jr

Wilbur Jennings "Bud" Spaite Jr., 79, of East Palestine died Friday, October 3, at his residence, following a prolonged illness.

Wilbur was born January 23, 1935, in East Palestine, the son of Wilbur J. Spaite Sr. and Orpah M. Trumbauer Spaite. A 1953 graduate of East Palestine High School, Wilbur worked at Spaite's Market and W. S. George Pottery. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve Company C 778 Tank Battalion for 8 and 1/2 years. Wilbur was employed as a trainman for Conrail, Penn Central, and the Pennsylvania Railroad for 39 years, retiring in 1995.

He was a benefactor member of the National Rifle Association, Life Member of the Columbiana County Sportsmen's Club, and a member of the East Palestine Sportsmen's Club, Fraternal Order of Eagles 1506, United Transportation Union 1415, NARVRE 161, First Families of Ohio 1211, the Salem Historical Society, and the Ohio, Mansfield, Columbiana County, and Mahoning County Genealogical Societies. He was also a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of East Palestine.

Wilbur married Marietta Barry Weigle on July 22, 1957. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Marietta, on April 22, 1995. He then married Georgette Howard on May 17, 1998, who passed away October 15, 2002. A brother, William Horace "Billy" Spaite, died July 29, 1941. A step-father, Harry Smith, and a step-brother, Donald Smith also preceded him in death.

He is survived by a son, William (Patti) Spaite of Titusville, PA; a daughter, Margaret Foreman of Columbiana; two stepdaughters, Michelle (Frank) Young and Marcia (Bruce) VanFossen of East Palestine; five grandchildren, Staci (Larry) Watson, Kristi (Kelton) Noce, Elizabeth (Bobby) Marchand, Jared Spaite, and Samantha Foreman; four great-grandchildren, Alexia, Emma, Isabella, and Carter Watson, and a stepsister, Florence (Dorman) Robinson of Baden, PA.

As per his wishes, a private family viewing was held, followed by interment at Crest Haven Memorial Gardens. If friends desire, material tributes may take the form of a donation to the First United Presbyterian Church of East Palestine memorial fund. Arrangements were entrusted to the Van Dyke-Swaney-Rettig Funeral Home, East Palestine.