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Music, love sustain 70-year love affair
By Sean Barron
LAKE MILTON
The same day that Merrill and Fran Spahlinger walked down the aisle to pledge their vows to each other, an important French peninsula fell into Allied hands and a strike was underway against the Nazis in Copenhagen.
“I came home on leave and we got married in Windham,” Merrill recalled, referring to the couple’s June 30, 1944, marriage.
Seven decades after having gotten hitched, the two 90-year-olds continue to enjoy a strong, vibrant relationship and are, in nearly all respects, a typical couple.
For their 70th anniversary last June, the Spahlingers enjoyed a catered party at American Legion Post 737 on Milton Avenue. An estimated 95 family members and friends attended.
Merrill and Fran spoke recently from their Harbor Avenue home about their many years together, the centerpiece of which was raising a family that grew to include three children, six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Both are happy that their son, Rick Spahlinger, lives next door. Another son, Ron Spahlinger, lives in Mabank, Texas; their daughter, Marilyn Liber, is deceased.
After they met in what was Braceville High School (now LaBrae High) and got married, Merrill joined the Air Force and was promoted to second lieutenant navigator. He flew 35 heavy-bombardment missions in B-17 planes over Germany, for which he received an air medal with five oak leaf clusters.
After his military career, he worked 37 years at Republic Steel and spent much of that time singing in barbershop quartets, including the Warren chapter of the Barbershop Harmony group.
In high school, Merrill played the French horn with a military band. Later, he developed a hobby of tuning pianos, something he still does on occasion.
Music is a central theme that runs through the family. While her husband was tuning pianos, Fran was playing one as part of the Warren-based SCOPE Rhythm Band. The troupe often entertained at nursing homes and assisting-living facilities, said Fran, who began playing around age 7 and spent about 20 years with the Warren-based Sweet Adelines, a ladies barbershop group.
For their parts, Rick plays the guitar and banjo; Ron plays the keyboards and organ. One of their granddaughters, Jenny Helmick, teaches music at LaBrae.
Fran also worked for nearly two years in Packard Electric’s chemical lab and attended Case Western Reserve and Kent State universities.
She received a degree in education at KSU, then taught eight years at Braceville Elementary School and 16 years at the Fairhaven school, where she assisted children with special needs with daily-living and socialization skills.
“I loved teaching both places, but it was more of a challenge with special education,” she recalled. “Other teachers encouraged me to teach at Fairhaven.”
For the past 25 years, the couple has spent winters near Fort Myers, Fla., where Fran still plays piano in a Methodist church choir. She and her husband also have enjoyed spending time on the golf course.
When they’re in Lake Milton, Merrill and Fran enjoy following their grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s sports activities and hosting occasional family cookouts.
“We’re so blessed with our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” Fran said.
Anyone who can keep a healthy, happy relationship going strong after more than seven decades must have a secret, right?
“We just laugh a lot and have a good time and keep busy,” Fran added. “We also say a prayer every day.”
So, what song did Merrill sing while sons Rick and Ron played during their 70th anniversary party? “It Had to Be You,” of course.