1924
Joseph
2020
Joseph Wayne Spraggins
July 20, 1924 — January 22, 2020
Joseph Wayne Spraggins, 95, of Murphy, passed away January 22, 2020 at Methodist Richardson Hospital after a brief illness.
Wayne was born in Montgomery, Alabama on July 20, 1924 to Tom and Claudie Spraggins. He graduated from Sydney Lanier High School in 1942 and from Auburn University in 1948 with a degree in Business Administration.
Wayne was a veteran of World War II and served in the Navy and Fleet Marines from February 1943 to March 1946. He was honorably discharged as a Storekeeper Second Class. For his service Wayne earned the Asiatic-Pacific Medal, American Theatre Medal and Victory Medal.
In 2015, he was awarded a Congressional Veteran's Commendation by former Congressman Sam Johnson.
Wayne was a career journalist and businessman. He worked as a police reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser, as a stringer for the Associated Press, as a sports reporter for the Houston Post, as an editor for the Houston Chronicle and as a foreign correspondent for The New York Times. When his newspaper career ended, Wayne moved to Dallas where he helped pioneer the ice machine business, co-owning Texas Ice Machine, the largest ice machine distributor in the state of Texas, until it sold 21 years later.
After moving to Murphy in 2009, Wayne often spent time escorting his wife Betty, a former Murphy councilwoman, to meetings and city events. At home, Wayne could often be found working in his yard or typing newsletters or columns for the newspaper in his home office.
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents and brother Dwight Spraggins.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Betty Nichols Spraggins, sons Kenneth and Craig Spraggins, three stepchildren; Pam Berry, Jack Reeb, Cynthia McCullough and her husband Ed; one grandchild, five step-grandchildren and 10 step-great-grandchildren.
A come and go memorial service will be held February 1 from 4 – 5:30 p.m. at the Murphy Community Center in Murphy. Arrangements are being made by Charles Smith and Sons Funeral Home in Sachse.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Murphy Veterans Tribute Memorial Fund at www.MurphyVeteransTribute.org
Wayne was born in Montgomery, Alabama on July 20, 1924 to Tom and Claudie Spraggins. He graduated from Sydney Lanier High School in 1942 and from Auburn University in 1948 with a degree in Business Administration.
Wayne was a veteran of World War II and served in the Navy and Fleet Marines from February 1943 to March 1946. He was honorably discharged as a Storekeeper Second Class. For his service Wayne earned the Asiatic-Pacific Medal, American Theatre Medal and Victory Medal.
In 2015, he was awarded a Congressional Veteran's Commendation by former Congressman Sam Johnson.
Wayne was a career journalist and businessman. He worked as a police reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser, as a stringer for the Associated Press, as a sports reporter for the Houston Post, as an editor for the Houston Chronicle and as a foreign correspondent for The New York Times. When his newspaper career ended, Wayne moved to Dallas where he helped pioneer the ice machine business, co-owning Texas Ice Machine, the largest ice machine distributor in the state of Texas, until it sold 21 years later.
After moving to Murphy in 2009, Wayne often spent time escorting his wife Betty, a former Murphy councilwoman, to meetings and city events. At home, Wayne could often be found working in his yard or typing newsletters or columns for the newspaper in his home office.
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents and brother Dwight Spraggins.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Betty Nichols Spraggins, sons Kenneth and Craig Spraggins, three stepchildren; Pam Berry, Jack Reeb, Cynthia McCullough and her husband Ed; one grandchild, five step-grandchildren and 10 step-great-grandchildren.
A come and go memorial service will be held February 1 from 4 – 5:30 p.m. at the Murphy Community Center in Murphy. Arrangements are being made by Charles Smith and Sons Funeral Home in Sachse.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Murphy Veterans Tribute Memorial Fund at www.MurphyVeteransTribute.org
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph Wayne Spraggins, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Memorial Service
Saturday, February 1, 2020
4:00 - 6:00 pm (Central time)
Murphy community Center
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