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Friends may call at the Thornhill-Dillion chapel fromnoon
today until noon Thursday at which time the body will be
taken to the church where the casket will be closed.
Contributions may be made to the Missouri Southern college
scholarship fund.
Mr. Spiva, who last month was presented the JOplin Chamber
of Commerce’s first annual “Outstanding Citizen
Award,” had suffered a heart condition for several
years. He was admitted to the hospital Sunday afternoon.
The award was presented for his outstanding contributions
to the cultural, art and civic functions of the city over
a long span of years.
Born in Joplin February 26, 1904, he had resided in Joplin
his entire life. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs.
George N. Spiva. His father was a powder manufacturer and
was one of Joplin’s foremost financial and civic leaders.
The elder Spiva died in 1950.
Mr. Spiva was graduated from Joplin high school and later
attended the University of Missouri. He was married to Miss
Agnes Schnur, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Herbert
Schnur. Her father was a pioneer businessman, former postmaster
and active in Republican politics.
Mr. Spiva was one of the principal contributors to the new
Missouri Southern college and financed construction of and
donated to the city a new park at Fourth and Main streets.
The park was named the Spiva Memorial park in honor of his
father.
In addition to his varied investment activities, he was
a director of the First National bank, director of Eagle-Picher
Industries, Inc., a director of Four States Broadcasters
Inc. and had several business interests.
His civic work included tenure as president of the Joplin
Chamber of Commerce. He also had served as a member of the
board of directors of Freeman hospital, a member of the
Joplin Kiwanis Club and was a past treasurer of the Joplin
special road district. He was one of the largest contributors
to the Freeman hospital expansion program several years
ago.
Mr Spiva also was an original member of the Joplin airport
board, serving four years with that group, and was a former
president of the board. During World War II, he was a member
of the Joplin rationing board.
In his social and lodge activities, Mr. Spiva was a member
of the Twin HIlls Golf and Country Club, The Joplin Club,
Joplin lodge No. 335, A. F. and A. M., the Scottish Rite
bodies and the Joplin Elks Club. He was a Thirty-second
degree Mason and a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor,
the second highest honorary degree in Masonry; a member
of the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine of Springfield and the Joplin
Shrine Club; the First Community Church; the Ozark Artists
Guild and the Joplin Little Theatre, Inc. and was active
in University of Missouri alumni affairs.
He was instrumental in the founding of the Spiva Art Center
and donor of the building housing the facility.
Survivors include the widow, Mrs. Agnes Schnur Spiva of
the home, one daughter, Mrs. John M. Cragin of Fort Clayton,
Panama Canal Zone; one son, Dr. George A. Spiva Jr., a university
professor at Lima, Peru; one sister, Mrs. L. K. Timmons
of Pittsburg, Kan.; his stepmother, Mrs. George N. Spiva;seven
grandchildren, George Nicholas Spiva, Howard Newton Spiva,
Leslie Helen Spiva, John Michael Cragin, Christy Spiva Cragin,
Evan Scott Cragin and Gay Cragin; two nieces, Mr. Curtis
D. Kimball II of Lincoln, Neb., and Mrs. Sidney W. Burnham
of Orinda, Calif., and a nephew, Hubert T. Spiva Jr. of
Los Angeles, all children of his late brother, Hubert T.
Spiva. In addition, he is survived by two other nephews,
George Timmons of Marquette, Kan., and Robert Timmons of
Lawrence, Kan.; a niece, Mrs. Joe L. Spears of Cabool, children
of his sister, Mrs. L. K. Timmons and an aunt, Mrs. H. C.
Adams.
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