Robert J. Spera
April 3, 1923 ~ May 26, 2024
Born in:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Resided in:
Stone Mountain, Georgia
Robert John Spera (101 years), beloved husband, father and grandfather died peacefully at Pebblebrook Center at Park Springs, Stone Mountain GA in the early morning hours of May 26, 2024. He is survived by his daughter Cathy and grandson Drew of Falls Church, VA, and numerous relatives in Georgia, Philadelphia, and New Jersey.
Bob was born in Philadelphia, PA on April 3, 2023. The oldest of two other siblings (Jean and Ray), he grew up in the Philadelphia/New Jersey area, graduating from Moorestown High School in New Jersey in 1940. He started taking college courses in engineering before enlisting in the US Air Force. His primary pilot training was at Oxnard Air Force Base in CA, with further training at Baker Field CA and Williams Field AZ flying a variety of aircraft. Once overseas, he was stationed in India flying the Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber. The majority of his missions were to fly gasoline over the Himalaya Mountains to the Allied Forces in China. In 1945, he was discharged from the Air Force with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, and in 2022 was awarded a Quilt of Valor for his service.
Following his discharge, he attended Drexel University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1950. Upon graduating, he moved to Oak Ridge TN and began working at General Electric Co. He shared a house with 4 other engineers working at either General Electric or Union Carbide. Barbara Joan Deiters (‘Babs’) was a recent graduate of University of Georgia with a degree in Chemistry and had moved to Oak Ridge to work at Union Carbide. She was rooming with several other girls, all chemistry majors. It’s not known exactly how Bob and his roommates met Barbara and her group, but whether it was at work, or at a party, ultimately five couples married from the two groups. The ‘Blivits’ as the men called themselves (but refused to reveal what that meant) and their wives remained friends for life. Once retired, they had many reunions, traveling back to Oak Ridge after 50 years, Carson City NV where one couple had settled, etc.
Bob and Barbara married and moved to Cincinatti OH in 1953 and had 3 children: Paul (deceased 1954), Janet (deceased 2014), and Catherine (Cathy). Bob had never lost his love of flying and belonged to a club in Cincinatti that provided access to both a two seater and four seater plane. A favorite weekend outing was to take his daughters out for a quick flight, showing them their apartment from the air. A very memorable vacation was when he flew the family from Cincinatti down to Atlanta to visit family and flying back via Florida with a side trip to the beach.
General Electric transferred Bob to the Philadelphia area in 1964, where they settled in Maple Glen PA and remained there for the next 40 years. Bob spent his entire career with General Electric working on a wide variety of projects such as Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion, the Space Program, Solor Power and Wind Power. He retired in 1987 when he was 64 years old.
In 2006, Bob and Barbara moved to the Park Springs Continuing Care Community in Stone Mountain GA. In March 2014, Bob’s daughter Janet lost her battle with cancer. During her last few months, Barbara learned that she required surgery, but postponed the operation until after Janet had passed away. Barbara survived the surgery, however due to complications, died suddenly on May 31, 2014, leaving Bob heartbroken.
For the past 10 years, Bob has continued to reside in Independent Living at Park Springs. He demonstrated his amazing strength throughout that time, however recent illnesses in October 2023 took a toll on him. He spent 10 days in the hospital and an additional 5 months in rehab before returning to his apartment with in-home hospice just before his 101st birthday. He moved back into Pebblebrook for 5 days before passing away peacefully.
A Funeral Mass will be held for Bob at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church, 5373 Wydella Rd. Lilburn GA 30047 on Wednesday June 19, 2024 at 11:00 AM. A private burial in Cheltenham PA will take place this summer. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to either St. Stephen the Martyr Church or the American Cancer Society.
Services
Funeral Mass: June 19, 2024 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church
5373 Wydella Road SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Cathy, you have been such a devoted daughter and it has been a joy to get to know you and meet your son, Drew. Please take good care of yourself and keep in touch. Much love, Margaret (your Dad’s Park Springs downstairs neighbor)