June Spann

June Spann, 93, of Carlisle, widow of Melvin Spann, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, at North Metro Medical Center in Jacksonville. Mrs. Spann was born Nov. 15, 1920, in Bayard, Neb., to Louis Sabo and Perle Marie Rogers Sabo Lancaster. She moved to Stuttgart in 1948 at which time she and her husband established KWAK radio station in Stuttgart which they operated for several decades. They were also owners and operators of KBBA radio station in Benton. She was an original stockholder of Stuttgart Realty Corp. for the founding of the Stuttgart Country Club. She was a member of Amici Club serving twice as its president and was instrumental in the founding of the Stuttgart Agricultural Museum, now the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie. She also served as a Docent at the museum for 20 years. Spann was a charter member of American Women in Radio and Television and also a member of the Arkansas Broadcaster's Association. She was an avid bowler for several years and once served as president of the Women's Bowling Association. She was a member of General Federation of Women's Club having served as state president and received Arkansas Outstanding Clubwomen for 2008-2009. She was also named Outstanding Club Woman by the Pine Bluff District of the General Federation of Woman's Club. An active member of First Baptist Church, Spann was also a member of Stuttgart Hospital Volunteers and RSVP, as well as, serving as treasurer of Stuttgart Senior Citizen Center. She was recognized as "Citizen of the Year" in 2009 by the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Louis Sabo and Wayne Sabo; and her step-father, Jeff Lancaster. Survivors are her children, Tom Spann (Mary Ann) of Benton and Nancy Chudy (Frank) of Carlisle; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Funeral services, officiated by Dr. Sam Roberts, are 10 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church with burial in Lone Tree Cemetery. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Turpin Funeral Home. Her family requests memorials to First Baptist Church, 2109 S. Columbus, Stuttgart, Ark., 72160; Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie, 921 E. Fourth St., Stuttgart, Ark., 72160; or the donor's choice. Please go to www.turpin-co.com to sign the online guestbook.