WTCS "Hymn Time"'s Frank Spevock Passes Away

[Scott Reppert]

This is notable for any of us that ran "Hymn Time"...celebrating "berfdays" and playing songs from "albuns". Combine this with last week's passing of Muriel "Mom" Manning (wife of "Search The Scriptures" host Robert Manning) and it's been a sad week for WTCS alums...

Frank Spevock, 82, of Montana Mines, passed away on Monday (April 20, 2009) at his home. He was born on June 8, 1926, at Rivesville, a son of the late Steve Spevock Sr. and Caroline Hauptman Spevock. Frank was retired from the Owens-Illinois Glass Plant in Fairmont where he had worked in the decorating department for 35 years. He was converted at the Highlawns United Brethren Church at the age of 16, on April 6, 1943. He was a graduate of Rivesville High School shortly thereafter. He was a member of the Montana United Methodist Church, but worked with many churches in and around Marion County.

In 1947 he established the local Circuit Rider Ministry which included many forms of evangelism, especially his church/community publication called the "Circuit Rider, which he edited and published for 60 years. He also published over 30 volumes of local history. He was the first president of the Montana Improvement Association in 1958. He was selected to be an honorary member of the WCTU over 50 years ago.

Frank was the director of the weekly "Hymn Time" radio program on radio station WTCS in Fairmont for over 40 years. He was assisted by his friend, Lonnie Fast. On Aug. 26, 1953, he married Helen Munza Spevock of Montana Mines and unto them were born two sons of Montana Mines, Thomas Lee Spevock and his wife Nancy Lee Spevock and David Lynn Spevock and his wife Debra Ann Spevock and three grandsons, Brad Spevock, Davie Spevock and Dustin Spevock, all of whom survive.

The Spevock family will receive friends on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Carpenter and Ford Funeral Home, 209 Merchant St., Fairmont. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Thursday with Pastor Danny Blake, Lonnie Fast and Rev. William Burrows officiating. In keeping with the wishes of the deceased, the casket will be closed during the visitation and funeral service. Frank wanted to be remembered for how he lived, not for how he died. Interment will follow at the Montana Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Montana United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 403, Montana Mines, WV 26586. The Spevock family would like to thank Tender Loving Care Hospice for their wonderful assistance during Frank's illness.Online messages of sympathy may be sent to the Spevock family at Carpford@verizon.net .