Beverly “Beaver” Brown Spitler, who was born in Iowa in 1927 but had spent more than half of her young life in Brazil before she even started school, died Wednesday, June 12, in Maryville. She was 91.
In 1941, she moved with her family to Loudon when her father, the late Frank Charles Brown, took a job with TVA. She graduated from Loudon High School in 1946 and attended the University of Tennessee before finishing her undergraduate studies at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City.
In March 1954, she moved to Prince William County, Virginia, to teach high school in Nokesville, according to her obituary. A whirlwind romance with Nokesville native Alan Q. Spitler resulted in their marriage on Aug. 8, 1954. Their 64-year union ended when Mr. Spitler passed away Aug. 29, 2018.
In 1974, the Spitlers moved to Loudon and began to describe themselves as “East Tennesseans by choice.” She continued her teaching career in Loudon County. They spent their golden years at Shannondale of Maryville.
A former First Lady of Loudon and member of Loudon United Methodist Church, Mrs. Spitler requested that there be no visitation or service. Her cremated remains will be inurned at Grandview Cemetery in Maryville. She asked that memorials be made to the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House or a charity of the donor’s choice.