Willie Spira

resident of Chicago, passed away peacefully at her Jacksonville home

on Aug. 9, 2010. She was known for her kindness, hospitality and

devotion to her family.

A native of Aliceville, Ala., she attended nursing school in

Columbus, Miss. She continued her training at Cook County Hospital

Nursing School in Chicago where she met her future husband, Dr. Samuel

B. Spira, deceased, of Chicago. She was a World War II veteran and

served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps prior to her marriage in 1942.

During WWII, when her husband was serving as a flight surgeon with the

U.S. Army Air Corps, she worked as a nurse at a German POW camp near

Aliceville.

Her husband was previously chief of outpatient care at the West

Side VA Medical Center. A colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, he

served as commander of the 640th USAF Hospital Reserve Unit at O'Hare

International Airport prior to his retirement.

Mrs. Spira was a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Chicago and served

as a PTA president.

Mrs. Spira moved to Jacksonville in 1995. She will be greatly missed

by her daughter, June Weltman of Jacksonville, her two grandchildren,

Andrew (Julia) Weltman of Miami and Sarah Weltman of New York City, by

her large family, including sisters-in law, nieces and nephews and

great nieces and nephews, and by her friends and caregivers.

A family service and internment took place at Memorial Park Cemetery

in Skokie, Ill. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mayo

Clinic/Jacksonville for dementia and Alzheimer’s research programs.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223 www.hgmandarin.com 904-288-0025.