1926
Elsie
2013
Elsie Spiker
July 18, 1926 — December 8, 2013
Struthers - Funeral Services will be held Thursday, 11:00 AM at the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home in Struthers for Elsie Spiker, age 87.
Elsie Rogerson Spiker was born on July 18, 1926 at Glenn Thorpe in Timperley, Cheshire, England; the sixth of nine children born to William and Beatrice Lees Rogerson. She entered into eternal rest on Sunday December 8, at Maplecrest Nursing Home where the staff gave her excellent care during her last days. She had been there for two weeks.
Her father died in 1937 when Elsie was 11 years old. At 14 she went to work as did her older sisters in order to support the household. (Her one older brother was in the British Army in Burma.) Living in a small village outside the manufacturing city of Manchester, the German bombers visited almost nightly and for two years, the family slept in the cellar rather than getting up every night and taking shelter there. Some nights, the working members of the family did not get home before the bombers started and frequently spent nights lying in ditches with their mother worrying and wondering who was and/or was not coming home.
She met Elmer Spiker on a blind date in 1943, and on that very first date, he asked her to marry him. It must have been "love at first sight" for both of them since they wasted no time and married on June 20, 1943 at Maidstone, England when she was almost 17. Her older sister signed the permission papers for her to marry underage, as they both knew their Mother would not have consented.
After the War was over, Elsie and infant daughter (along with other English war brides) came to the United States on the S.S. Uruguay in 1946 to New York, and from there via train to Tarentum, Pennsylvania where she was met by her husband. They made their home in Natrona Heights with his parents for a while until Elmer was laid off from his job. (He had enlisted in the service directly from high school and had no job to return to when the war was over.) His sister told him that they were hiring at the steel mills in Youngstown, so he went to work for The Rod and Wire in Struthers some time in 1948.
They were happy together in Struthers and their remaining five children were born while living there. Elmer died on May 20, 1970 leaving rearing of the youngest three children to his wife.
Elsie had assorted jobs after Elmer died: a rural paper carrier for the Vindicator; a short order cook at a truck stop in North Lima; a house mother at the old Crittenden Home in Youngstown; and finally as a housekeeper at St. Edward's Rectory in Youngstown for many years before retiring when she was about 70. After that she worked at Lois Candies for her dear friend and companion, Jim Loizos who died in September 2006.
Elsie enjoyed playing cards and belonged to two card clubs until she became ill and unable to drive anymore. She loved gardening and even after she became ill insisted that one of us (usually Bill) water and take care of her plants. She was active in her church and the Ladies Group at Christ Lutheran in Struthers.
Mostly she loved her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her older sister, Mary, once said that Elsie was the only person she ever knew who had no guile in her, no deceit of any kind. She was exactly what she appeared to be; a wonderfully kind and giving person.
She leaves to cherish her memory the following children: Christine (Jack) Statler of Canfield; Donna Urchak of Struthers; Bill (Cindy) Spiker of Struthers who took care of most of the household repairs and yard work; Duke (Cathie) Spiker of Enon, OH; Mary Spiker of Struthers with whom she made her home and who lovingly took care of her for many years; and Jim (Paula) Spiker of Livonia, MI;
The following grandchildren survive: Shelly Moulin; Dave Holt, Bill (Nicole) Spiker; Amanda Spiker who helped take care of her Grandmother with much love; Matthew (Michelle) Spiker; Rose (Steven) Alphenaar; Victoria Spiker; Jim (Laurie) Spiker; Alex (Lindsey) Spiker; and Karly Spiker. Great-grandchildren include Grace and Blake Spiker; and Danielle and Kellie Holt.
One sister, Audrey (Brain) Wood of Chelford, Macclesfield, England also survives as does a host of nieces and nephews scattered throughout England, Wales, Scotland, The Netherlands, Australia, Kentucky and Florida.
She also leaves her dear cats, Molly and Mafalda, also of Struthers. She always loved cats.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Elmer; her companion, Jim Loizos; her parents, William and Beatrice Rogerson; her son-in-law Mike Urchak; and the following siblings: Mary Farrell, Beatrice Owen Gibson, Margaret Strawson, Harold Rogerson, Kathleen Gettler, Phyllis Jensen, and Geoffrey Rogerson; and her beloved cat Micah.
Family and friends will be received Wednesday from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and Thursday from 10:00 AM until 10:45 AM at the funeral home.
The family requests any gifts take the form of contributions to Second Chance Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 4867, Austintown, OH 44515.
Elsie Rogerson Spiker was born on July 18, 1926 at Glenn Thorpe in Timperley, Cheshire, England; the sixth of nine children born to William and Beatrice Lees Rogerson. She entered into eternal rest on Sunday December 8, at Maplecrest Nursing Home where the staff gave her excellent care during her last days. She had been there for two weeks.
Her father died in 1937 when Elsie was 11 years old. At 14 she went to work as did her older sisters in order to support the household. (Her one older brother was in the British Army in Burma.) Living in a small village outside the manufacturing city of Manchester, the German bombers visited almost nightly and for two years, the family slept in the cellar rather than getting up every night and taking shelter there. Some nights, the working members of the family did not get home before the bombers started and frequently spent nights lying in ditches with their mother worrying and wondering who was and/or was not coming home.
She met Elmer Spiker on a blind date in 1943, and on that very first date, he asked her to marry him. It must have been "love at first sight" for both of them since they wasted no time and married on June 20, 1943 at Maidstone, England when she was almost 17. Her older sister signed the permission papers for her to marry underage, as they both knew their Mother would not have consented.
After the War was over, Elsie and infant daughter (along with other English war brides) came to the United States on the S.S. Uruguay in 1946 to New York, and from there via train to Tarentum, Pennsylvania where she was met by her husband. They made their home in Natrona Heights with his parents for a while until Elmer was laid off from his job. (He had enlisted in the service directly from high school and had no job to return to when the war was over.) His sister told him that they were hiring at the steel mills in Youngstown, so he went to work for The Rod and Wire in Struthers some time in 1948.
They were happy together in Struthers and their remaining five children were born while living there. Elmer died on May 20, 1970 leaving rearing of the youngest three children to his wife.
Elsie had assorted jobs after Elmer died: a rural paper carrier for the Vindicator; a short order cook at a truck stop in North Lima; a house mother at the old Crittenden Home in Youngstown; and finally as a housekeeper at St. Edward's Rectory in Youngstown for many years before retiring when she was about 70. After that she worked at Lois Candies for her dear friend and companion, Jim Loizos who died in September 2006.
Elsie enjoyed playing cards and belonged to two card clubs until she became ill and unable to drive anymore. She loved gardening and even after she became ill insisted that one of us (usually Bill) water and take care of her plants. She was active in her church and the Ladies Group at Christ Lutheran in Struthers.
Mostly she loved her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her older sister, Mary, once said that Elsie was the only person she ever knew who had no guile in her, no deceit of any kind. She was exactly what she appeared to be; a wonderfully kind and giving person.
She leaves to cherish her memory the following children: Christine (Jack) Statler of Canfield; Donna Urchak of Struthers; Bill (Cindy) Spiker of Struthers who took care of most of the household repairs and yard work; Duke (Cathie) Spiker of Enon, OH; Mary Spiker of Struthers with whom she made her home and who lovingly took care of her for many years; and Jim (Paula) Spiker of Livonia, MI;
The following grandchildren survive: Shelly Moulin; Dave Holt, Bill (Nicole) Spiker; Amanda Spiker who helped take care of her Grandmother with much love; Matthew (Michelle) Spiker; Rose (Steven) Alphenaar; Victoria Spiker; Jim (Laurie) Spiker; Alex (Lindsey) Spiker; and Karly Spiker. Great-grandchildren include Grace and Blake Spiker; and Danielle and Kellie Holt.
One sister, Audrey (Brain) Wood of Chelford, Macclesfield, England also survives as does a host of nieces and nephews scattered throughout England, Wales, Scotland, The Netherlands, Australia, Kentucky and Florida.
She also leaves her dear cats, Molly and Mafalda, also of Struthers. She always loved cats.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Elmer; her companion, Jim Loizos; her parents, William and Beatrice Rogerson; her son-in-law Mike Urchak; and the following siblings: Mary Farrell, Beatrice Owen Gibson, Margaret Strawson, Harold Rogerson, Kathleen Gettler, Phyllis Jensen, and Geoffrey Rogerson; and her beloved cat Micah.
Family and friends will be received Wednesday from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and Thursday from 10:00 AM until 10:45 AM at the funeral home.
The family requests any gifts take the form of contributions to Second Chance Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 4867, Austintown, OH 44515.
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