1920
Emma
2015
Emma Mueller Spielman
April 4, 1920 — October 6, 2015
Emma Josepha (Mueller) Spielman, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, was born on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1920, in Fulda, Germany to Emma Elizabeth Gies Mueller and her husband Leo Friederick Mueller. Emma and her parents lived in Fulda, Germany until she was five years old.
In 1925, Emma and her parents set sail on the S.S.Arabic Oceanliner for the United States. After being admitted into the United States as immigrants, Emma and her parents traveled from New York City to Rochester, New York, where Emma spent her childhood. At John Marshall High School, she was active in the German club and was determined to become a German teacher at the high school level. She was salutatorian of her class and was awarded the Steuben Society Medal.
After graduation she took a job working for the Edward Harris Family on Nantucket Island. She enrolled at the University of Rochester, where she was president of the German club and acted in many of their performances. She was one of three German majors to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1941. She continued her education and received a Masters in German and a minor in mathematics. After acquiring her master’s, she taught mathematics at the New York State School for Juvenile Delinquents in Industry, New York.
In 1944, Emma went to officer’s candidate school at Smith College in North Hampton, Massachusetts. She was proud to serve her adopted country as a U.S. Naval Officer at the Philadelphia Naval shipyard electronics lab, where she met John Robert Spielman, her future husband. In 1946, she went to teach mathematics at the Northfield School for Girls in Northfield, Massachusetts. In 1947, John and Emma were married at the Spielman home in Washington. They moved to Hyattsville, Maryland, where they welcomed their daughters Mary Elizabeth and Ruth Ann.
The family soon moved to Cranford, New Jersey, where daughter Ann Elizabeth was born. In 1955, the family moved to Dearborn, Michigan, where John worked for Ford Motor Company and Emmy remained busy raising three girls. She taught German, was a Girl Scout leader, active in the Methodist Church, and several volunteer organizations.
In the early 1980s, after raising their family, Emma and John moved from Dearborn to Amherst, Virginia. While residing in Amherst, Emma enjoyed frequent visits from her grandchildren and traveled extensively with John. In 2003, they moved to an apartment in Westminster Canterbury Retirement Community in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Emma is survived by her three daughters, Mary Elizabeth Surface and her husband, Tom of Chesterfield, Va., Ruth Howell and her husband, Mike of Saginaw, Mich., and Ann Woolley and her husband, Mark of Southlake, Texas; six grandchildren, Wendy Surface, Tom Surface, Jr., John Howell, Sarah Howell, Jenny Woolley, and James Woolley; and two great-grandchildren, Emma and Jackson Howell.
The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2015, at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg. A celebration of Emma’s life will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2015, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Tharp Funeral Home with Rev. Nancy C. Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Hill Memorial Park, with Military Honors provided by American Legion Post 16.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Emmanuel United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 451, Amherst, VA 24521, or to the Westminster Canterbury Scholarship or Fellowship Fund, 501 V.E.S. Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503.
Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is assisting the family. To send condolences please visit obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.
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In 1925, Emma and her parents set sail on the S.S.Arabic Oceanliner for the United States. After being admitted into the United States as immigrants, Emma and her parents traveled from New York City to Rochester, New York, where Emma spent her childhood. At John Marshall High School, she was active in the German club and was determined to become a German teacher at the high school level. She was salutatorian of her class and was awarded the Steuben Society Medal.
After graduation she took a job working for the Edward Harris Family on Nantucket Island. She enrolled at the University of Rochester, where she was president of the German club and acted in many of their performances. She was one of three German majors to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1941. She continued her education and received a Masters in German and a minor in mathematics. After acquiring her master’s, she taught mathematics at the New York State School for Juvenile Delinquents in Industry, New York.
In 1944, Emma went to officer’s candidate school at Smith College in North Hampton, Massachusetts. She was proud to serve her adopted country as a U.S. Naval Officer at the Philadelphia Naval shipyard electronics lab, where she met John Robert Spielman, her future husband. In 1946, she went to teach mathematics at the Northfield School for Girls in Northfield, Massachusetts. In 1947, John and Emma were married at the Spielman home in Washington. They moved to Hyattsville, Maryland, where they welcomed their daughters Mary Elizabeth and Ruth Ann.
The family soon moved to Cranford, New Jersey, where daughter Ann Elizabeth was born. In 1955, the family moved to Dearborn, Michigan, where John worked for Ford Motor Company and Emmy remained busy raising three girls. She taught German, was a Girl Scout leader, active in the Methodist Church, and several volunteer organizations.
In the early 1980s, after raising their family, Emma and John moved from Dearborn to Amherst, Virginia. While residing in Amherst, Emma enjoyed frequent visits from her grandchildren and traveled extensively with John. In 2003, they moved to an apartment in Westminster Canterbury Retirement Community in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Emma is survived by her three daughters, Mary Elizabeth Surface and her husband, Tom of Chesterfield, Va., Ruth Howell and her husband, Mike of Saginaw, Mich., and Ann Woolley and her husband, Mark of Southlake, Texas; six grandchildren, Wendy Surface, Tom Surface, Jr., John Howell, Sarah Howell, Jenny Woolley, and James Woolley; and two great-grandchildren, Emma and Jackson Howell.
The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2015, at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg. A celebration of Emma’s life will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2015, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Tharp Funeral Home with Rev. Nancy C. Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Hill Memorial Park, with Military Honors provided by American Legion Post 16.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Emmanuel United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 451, Amherst, VA 24521, or to the Westminster Canterbury Scholarship or Fellowship Fund, 501 V.E.S. Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503.
Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is assisting the family. To send condolences please visit obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.
View Tribute Video
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