THEODORE J. “JUNIOR” VANDERSPOOL

(NO GRAVESTONE)

B. August 11, 1931 in Avon Township, Lake County, IL
D. October 14, 1931 in Highland Lake (unincorporated), Avon Township, Lake County, IL
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  • Father: Theodore Hilke Vanderspool born March 13, 1908 in Lake Villa, Lake County, IL; veteran of the Navy (enlisted April 17, 1944, released August 18, 1945), son of Hilke Vanderspool (1867-1935) and Reka (Walstra) Vanderspool (1870-1933); married (1) Alma Ester, daughter of August Edward Ester (1887-1977) and Ivy Olga (Schmall) Ester (1893-1963); divorced Alma (Ester) Vanderspool in August 8, 1945; married (2) Lucille Edith Waldron (1919-1995), daughter of George and Ida Waldron; last residence in Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ; Theodore died June 2, 1987 in Puryear, Henry County, TN

According to the Commercial Appeal (Memphis TN) Thursday, June 4, 1987, page 36:

   “PURYEAR – Theodore H. Vanderspool, 79, retired heavy-equipment operator, died Tuesday at his home after a short illness.  McEvoy Funeral Home of Paris had charge.  Vanderspool, the husband of Lucille Waldron Vanderspool, also leaves three daughters, Mrs. Janice Geiske of Glendale, Ariz., Mrs. Theodora Juske of McHenry, Ill., and Mrs. Kay Hutchinson of Phoenix, Ariz.; a son, Ray Vanderspool of Huntington, Ind.; a stepson, Leroy Vanderspool of Gurnee, Ill.; a brother, Richard Vanderspool of Grayslake, Ill., 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.”

  • Mother: Alma (Ester) (Vanderspool) Bittner born 1911 in Mansfield, Piatt County, IL; married (1) Theodore Hilke Vanderspool and divorced August 8, 1945; married (2) Herman John Bittner (1912-1950) on August 16, 1945, son of Bertha Bittner (NOTE: Herman was born in Kansas.  He died November 8, 1950 in Avon Township, Lake County, IL, electrocuted by a cabled working in the attic of a Round Lake home; buried in Avon Centre Cemetery, Grayslake, Lake County, IL)
  • Siblings:
    • Delores Josephine (Vanderspool) Hook born November 28, 1928 in Grayslake, Lake County, IL; married (unknown) Hook; Delores died February 1985
    • Janice (Vanderspool) Gieske born about 1934 in Illinois (of Glendale AZ)
    • Raymond Edward Vanderspool born September 20, 1936 in Grayslake, Lake County, IL; married Judith Diane Darby; Raymond died December 15, 1995 in Huntington, Huntington County, IN; buried in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery, Huntington, Huntington County, IN

According to the Huntington County, Indiana, History & Families 1834-1993; Turner Publishing Company (Paducah, KY); 1993:

“RAYMOND EDWARD VANDERSPOOL – Raymond Edward was born Sept. 20, 1936, the son of Theodore Vanderspool of Grayslake, IL.  He came to Huntington when Model Engineering and Manufacturing Company closed their sales office in Chicago, IL in 1964 and transferred all operations to the Huntington plants.  He married in 1959 to the former Judith Diane Darby of Oak Park, IL.  They raised one son and two daughters.  The eldest, Jeanette, married Douglas Jena of South Bend, IN.  They reside in the old Rupert Eckert homestead on the Grimm Road.  They have three children: Christopher, Jonathon, and Stacy.  Michael, the only son of Ray and Judy, graduated from Purdue University and currently works for United Technologies of Huntington.  Amy, the youngest, is married to Nathan Kenseth who came from Edgerton, WI when General Motors built their truck plant in Roanoke.  Model Engineering was sold several times over the years until 1986 when Ray and two other investors purchased the company and changed the name to Memcor Truohm.  Ray and Judy built a home on the Rupert Eckert farm and raise cattle there.  Judy teaches Special Education in the Huntington County School Corporation.  Both are active in philanthropic endeavors such as United Way, Pathfinders, Kids Kampus, Samaritan Center, Tri Kappa, and Christ the King Episcopal Church.”

    • Carolyn Ester “Kay” (Vanderspool) Hutchinson born June 18, 1939 in Illinois; married Eugene Voyd Hutchinson on May 22, 1958 in Maricopa County, AZ
    • Theodora (Vanderspool) Juske (of McHenry IL)
  • Step Siblings:
    • Leroy Vanderspool (of Gurnee IL)

Additional Information:

According to the Independent Register, Thursday, October 22, 1931:

“VANDERSPOOL BABY DIES
   Junior Vanderspool, two months old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Vanderspool, passed away Wednesday evening at 8:30 at the home of his parents on Westerfield, with intestinal flu.   The funeral was held at the Esther home at Hainesville, Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock, with burial at Fort Hill cemetery.  Rev. Frederick Ringe conducted the services.”

According to the Lake County Illinois Genealogical Society. “Strang Funeral Home – Grayslake, Illinois – 1908-1964”. Mundelein IL. 2015:

“Surname: VanDERSPOOL; Name: Theodore J. Jr.; Birth Date/Place: 11 Oct 1931; Death Date/Place: 14 Oct 1931, Highland Lake; Cause of Death: Acute Myocarditis; Occupation: (blank); Minister – Funeral Home: Rev. RINGE, at Home; Burial Place – Next of Kin: Fort Hill, Theo VanDERSPOOL”