Billy Ben Spangler

     WEAVERVILLE – Billy Ben Spangler, age 85, died on Monday, September 25, 2023, under Hospice care at the Elizabeth House.

     Dr. Spangler was born February 28, 1938, in Peterstown, West Virginia to the late Ben and Truth Dexter Dunn Spangler. He was raised by his maternal grandparents.

     Dr. Spangler graduated from Greenbrier High School in Ronceverte, West Virginia in 1956 and attended Greenbrier Military Academy on a scholarship in 1956 to 1957. He graduated from Marshall University with an AB Degree in 1960 and a Master of Arts in 1961. He taught mathematics at Hannan Trace High School from 1961 until 1963 in Gallipolis, Ohio.

     He married Judith Nudd of Huntington, West Virginia, on August 18, 1962.

     Ben attended Auburn University on Fellowship Status from 1963 to 1965, completing the Doctor of Education degree in November of 1965. He served as Dean of Records and Admissions at Morehead State University (Kentucky) from November 1965 to 1967. He served as Director of Admissions at the University of North Carolina from 1967 to 1973. He attended Florida State and University of Florida in 1973 under a Kellog Post Doctoral Fellowship. He was Director of Guidance at Lenoir Community College and was Assistant Professor of Graduate Studies at East Carolina University’s Fort Bragg Graduate Center. He returned to Asheville as Director of Testing for Buncombe County and Guidance Counselor at Enka High School, retiring in January 1994.

     He served as a chief judge for the Buncombe County Board of Elections and as a legislative chairman for the Retired Education Association of Buncombe County and Western North Carolina Counties. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville and a Board member of the State Employees Credit Union.

     He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Judy Spangler; his daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Gary Fowler; and his close cousin, Norma Lee Markley, of Stevensville, MD.

     A memorial service will be held at 2:30p.m. on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville with the Reverend Skip Gillikin officiating. The family will greet friends following the service. The family will greet friends following the service and friends and family are welcome at the home afterwards.

     For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Dr. Spangler’s obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.