Beverly Springer

Beverly (Bev) Springer, 97, died on Friday, December 21, at Wisteria Place Rehab and Nursing Center in Abilene, where she had lived since January 2017, following a fall at her home.

Visitation will be at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, December 27, followed by a Rosary Service at 7:00 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene.  A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 28.  Services are at the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home.

Beverly was born in Brooklyn, New York to Grace and Lon Williams on December 19, 1921. She was the eldest of three children and survived her siblings, June Sudduth and Bruce Williams, both of whom died in 2017. The family lived most of their years in Suffern, New York, where Beverly enjoyed a carefree childhood swimming in the summers and sledding and ice skating in the winters with her friends. She learned to play the piano under the tutelage of Fred Delea and was accepted to the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester. During her time at the University she met Robert (Bob) Springer, whom she married in 1942.

Beverly moved to New York City where she studied merchandizing, which she put to good use years later as a long-standing volunteer at the St. Vincent de Paul Society Thrift Store in Abilene.  During her 50 years of involvement, she volunteered in the store, held managerial positions and provided leadership on the SVDP board of directors.

During the war years, Beverly’s family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where Beverly and Bob were married. Bob’s Army service took them to Abilene, where he was stationed at Camp Barkeley. Following his military service, Beverly and Bob settled in Abilene, became members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and raised their family. They enjoyed Abilene for the moderate climate for golf and gardening, and most of all, for the many good friends they made during their sixty-three year marriage.

Beverly committed herself to her family and their home life and joined her husband in supporting various civic causes. Beverly loved music all of her life. She had an uncanny ability to play almost any popular tune by ear and was often asked by friends and family to play the piano at social gatherings. She also supported the Abilene Philharmonic and the local musical community.

Beverly is survived by three daughters, Nancy Springer-Baldwin (Randall Baldwin) of Austin, Judy Henschen (Tony Henschen) of Austin, and Carrie Springer (Gary Pomerantz) of New York City; four grandchildren Joshua Williams (Bryn), Kate Waitzkin (Graeme), Nora Henschen and Louis Henschen; and five great-grandchildren.

Beverly’s family is grateful to the loving and dedicated staff at Wisteria Place, to Hospice of the Big Country, who ministered to her in the last days of her life, and to her friends who comforted her with their presence, a game of Go Fish, and a smuggled puppy visit.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, 1241 Walnut, Abilene, Texas 79601, or to Hospice of the Big Country, 4601 Hartford Street, Abilene, Texas 79605.