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SPITLER -- Loring West Spitler, loving husband and father of five children, died at home March 4, 2008, in Rio Rancho NM. Born March 7, 1921, in Thayer, Indiana, he was always a Hoosier at heart and led a varied life as an athlete, aerospace engineer, city and regional planner, world traveler, stamp collector, photographer, apple tree and book lover. Loring studied at the University of Cincinnati, served in the 15th Air Force Radar Division in Italy, married Annie Lou Davis of Bath NC, in 1945, and completed his ME degree at UNM in Albuquerque (Class of 1949). In 1957, he moved the family from Ohio to Southern California where he worked on the Apollo Space Project. After obtaining a Masters degree in Geography and Regional Planning from Cal State Fullerton, he returned to New Mexico in 1972, and worked for the Southern Rio Grande Council of Governments based in Las Cruces, and later as the first City Planning and Zoning Director of Rio Rancho. He and Annie also lived in Clovis and Taos. Loring is survived by his wife, Annie of 62 years, and children: Karen R. Schueler and Fred of Newark, DE; Loring W. Spitler, Jr. and Janet of San Diego, CA; Mark T. Spitler and Gail of Boyds, MD; Richard D. Spitler and Joan of Calistoga, CA; Priscilla A. Spitler and Don Hallock of Truth or Consequences, NM; ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service is planned for 10 a.m., Saturday, March 8, 2008 at French Mortuary Westside Chapel, 9300 Golf Course Rd. NW, Albuquerque. Internment will be in Kentland, Indiana March 15, 2008 following a memorial service in Valparaiso, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Friends of the Rio Rancho Public Library, 755 Loma Colorado Dr., Rio Rancho, NM 87124. French Mortuary 9300 Golf Course Rd. NW (505) 897-0300 www.frenchmortuary.com 
Published on: Thu March 06, 2008