Roland Mark Spillman was born Oct. 14, 1920, on a farm west of Mapleton. His parents were Charlie and Vida (Majors) Spillman. He grew up mainly on a farm near Mildred in Allen County and graduated from Mildred High School in 1939, having lettered in track and basketball. He spent four years in the Army during World War II and fought in the Aleutian Islands.
Roland married Evelyn Jolienne Hatcher of Dallas, Texas, in December 1945. They ran a small grocery store in Iola for a short time. Afterward, Rol did a number of other jobs, including a stint as a welder. He then went to work for Sinclair Oil Company which later turned into ARCO. Rol retired from ARCO as a chief deliveryman at the Kansas City Terminal in 1985 after 38 years. Rol and Jo lived in Kansas, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, New Jersey and Colorado during their lives but made their home in Allen County from 1977 until this year. Roland died on Sept. 1, 2014, after a short bout with cancer.
He is survived by his wife, Jo, Fort Scott, and his son, Mark and wife Jenny, Moran. Rol and Jo have two grandchildren, Sarah and Jeff, Moran. Rol also has a brother Max, Moran, and two sisters, Janice Culbertson, Yates Center, and Ruth Gillham, Humboldt.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, Eileen Rayburn and Lee Ed, Hazel and Helen Spillman.
Rol was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post at Moran and a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Corsicana, Texas. He was a Christian. He enjoyed his grandchildren, visiting his relatives and friends, watching sports and fishing. Rol will be sorely missed by his family and many friends.
Visitation is from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel, Iola. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Moran Christian Church with burial later at Fort Scott National Cemetery. Memorials may go to Paralyzed Veterans of America and may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements. To sign the guest book online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Roland Spillman
