Dwight Spain's Obituary
Dwight O’Neal Spain was born on June 1, 1952, in Indianapolis, Indiana to the late Isaac Spain and Mary Welch Spain. He was the youngest of three sons born to this union. Dwight married Cheryl Bridgeforth on July 26, 1975, in Indianapolis. From this blessed union, son Wesley O’Neal Spain was born on May 3, 1977.
Dwight attended Indianapolis public schools # 5 and #43 and graduated from Shortridge All-Academic High School in 1970. During high school, Dwight was active in Track and Cross Country team sports. He attended Purdue University and graduated with a BS degree in Economics in 1974.
While attending Purdue, Dwight served as an intern at Westinghouse and State Farm companies. He joined State Farm in 1974 as a management trainee expanding his professional and leadership roles over 33 years. During his career, Dwight was active in several professional and community boards which included mentoring youth through the St. Paul YMCA program. He furthered his education by achieving the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriting (CPCU)and Senior Claims Law Association (SCLA) designations while working at State Farm. Dwight retired from State Farm in 2006. He continued to mentor youth in the St. Paul school system and utilized a great talent for building miniature houses.
Dwight professed his love for Christ at an early age and was baptized at Irvington First Baptist Church in Indianapolis. Following his career move to Minnesota in 1989, he and his family united with Pilgrim Baptist Church in St. Paul. He served on the trustee board and participated in Sunday School classes at Pilgrim.
Dwight was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother. He leaves a legacy among family, friends, and colleagues of being wise, calm, and a strong mentor. He always remembered his Christian upbringing and lived by the motto: “the choices you make today will shape your future
Dwight departed this life at the age of 68 years and 5 months. He is preceded in death by his mother, father, brother Larry; sisters, Joyce Vandever and Winifred Robinson. He leaves to cherish his memories: Wife, Cheryl; son, Wesley(Shelley); Grandson, Robbie; Brother, Isaac; Niece, Geralyn Vandever(Jan); Sisters-In-law, Denise Buchanan and Donna Tucker-Wells(Vernon) and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and friends.
For those unable to attend, Brooks has coordinated a live stream broadcast for the date and time listed for the service, please click the link https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/80231960 to watch.
In lieu of flowers, the family has also arranged for donation's to the American Cancer Society in memory of Dwight Spain, please click https://donate3.cancer.org/ to contribute to the American Cancer Society, Your gift means we can bring hope to cancer patients. Together we are fighting cancer smarter, better, and harder than we ever have before. Thank you for your support.
What’s your fondest memory of Dwight?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dwight?
Share a story where Dwight's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dwight you’ll never forget.
How did Dwight make you smile?