James "Jim" Clinton Spears' Obituary
James (Jim) Clinton Spears, 75, of Huntington, WV, passed away on 2/14/22, at Paramount Senior Living in Ona, WV. He was born on 3/23/46, in Huntington, WV. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clinton and Pansy Mae Spears (Berry), and a sister, Phyliss Lee Day. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Vicki Spears (Kearns) formerly of Proctorville, OH, his son Matthew (Matt) Spears (daughter-in-law Claudia and grandson Sebastian) of Stuttgart, Germany, his son Jason Spears (daughter-in-law Shannon and grandsons AJ, Austin, and Anthony) of Kearneysville, WV, his sister Carolyn Sue Campbell (husband Bill, niece Missy, and nephew Chris) of VA, and a very special sister-in-law/family, Bunny Smith (husband Paul and nieces Alice and Dr. Samantha Smith) of Huntington, WV.
Jim grew up in Lavalette, WV, where he was a football standout at Buffalo High School, Wayne County, and later Morehead State University, KY. He started his career in school education as a math teacher after earning a bachelor's degree in teaching from Marshall University, WV, in 1968. He would later graduate from Marshall in 1973 after earning a master's degree in vocational and technical administration. It was while attending Marshall when he met his wife, Vicki, at a church function in 1967. They were married on 7/3/68 and moved throughout WV supporting his career as he was later the principal of vocational schools in Tucker, Wetzel, and Berkeley counties. The last 16 ½ years of his 35 ½ year career in education were spent at the James Rumsey Technical Institute in Hedgesville, WV, where he served as school Principal until his retirement in 2003. He was always looking for innovative methods to better the education for students such as working with colleges and state legislators to establish dual enrollment programs and bringing satellite video conferencing into the classroom as an option for remote learning.
Some of Jim's many talents were displayed within multiple aspects of home building and carpentry. He was a certified home inspector in WV for 15 years and a certified electrician in TN. He and his wife Vicki built numerous homes together in WV, SC, and TN. He loved to garden and enjoyed the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and some of his best "tales" were memories of multiple trips he was able to take to Alaska after he retired.
Funeral Service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday 3/5/22, Hall Funeral Home in Proctorville, OH, with family member Edward Lowry officiating. Burial will follow the service at Rome Cemetery in Proctorville, OH. Visitation will be held at Hall Funeral Home starting at 12 pm for family and 1 pm for public. Condolences may be expressed to the family at ehallfuneralhome.com. The family would also like to express a special "thank you" to neurologist Dr. Paul Ferguson of Marshall Health along with Dr. Cynthia Pinson and all the nurses/staff of Paramount Senior Living Memory Care, and also hospice of Huntington. The family requests that everyone wear masks at the visitation and service. The funeral will be livestreamed at https://webcasts.lifetributes.com/1195361
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