Submitted by: Dan Rich

Ida Bertrice Spurling

April 15, 1928 - July 28, 1999

South Bend Tribune 7/30/2001

She lived, She loved, She learned, and She left behind a Legacy of Caring and Loving Kindness.... Very softly and in a loving voice, the Lord called Ida Beatrice Spurling's name at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 28. She heard His voice and answered, "Lord, I'm tired." At that time, Ida Beatrice Spurling, 71, of 3903 Irish Hills Drive, was gathered into the Lord's arms at Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center. Ida was born on April 15, 1928, in Paducah, Ky., to the late Robert and Geneva Howard. In 1949 she moved to South Bend, Ind., from Cleveland, Ohio. She retired from Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center after 40 years of faithful service as a nursing assistant. She loved her job, and those who knew and worked with her loved her as well. She married Joseph Spurling and together they had three wonderful children. She leaves to cherish her memory a daughter, Vanessa (James) White of South Bend; two sons, Howard Kelly Spurling of Ithaca, N.Y., and Kimberly Lynn Spurling, who preceded her in death on Aug. 20, 1950. She also leaves two sisters, Robbie Congian of Chicago, Ill., and Francis Witherspoon of Mansfield, Ohio. Ida Spurling was a devoted and loving grandmother to her three beautiful grandchildren, James Lee Vaughn, Jerome Lamar and Jennifer Lynnette White; and to her five great-grandchildren, James, Jerome, Jermey, Jason and Latasha White, all of South Bend; and a host of nieces, nephews, close relatives and friends. A faithful member of the Greater Holy Temple COGIC, Ida Spurling was president of the Prayer and Bible Band, the Helping Hands Out Reach Ministry, and was a member of the Mother's Board. She loved her church and her church family. A tender-hearted person, Ida will be remembered for her giving spirit and her love for Christ. One of her favorite scriptures was: "Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8:35). All who knew her will remember her song and praise in "We Come This Far By Faith." Ida was a collector and lover of literature. She leaves her extensive collection of over 1,000 volumes to the Greater Holy Temple COGIC Library. Each volume had been lovingly read and enjoyed by our friend and family member, Ida Spurling. This was a pleasure she enjoyed until her eyesight faltered. Her generous gift will enable others to enjoy this same nurturing.