Hilda Ruth Sites Sponaugle, 91, a resident of Wymer, peacefully departed this earthly life on Sept. 7, 2022, at Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg, a place she called home, caring for patients for over five decades, where all knew her as Sponie. She was surrounded by family and the wonderful hospital staff in her last hours.
She was born May 20, 1931, at her parents’ home place in Teterton, a daughter of the late Ola Mallow Sites and Mamie Ethel Mallow Sites.
Mrs. Sponaugle was a 1949 graduate of Circleville High School where she earned valedictorian honors and participated in basketball and FFA and a 1951 graduate of Davis and Elkins College, receiving a degree in nursing. She spent a year interning at John Hopkins teaching hospital in obstetrics and pediatric care and a stent at Children’s National hospital in Rockville, Maryland, studying physiology. Immediately after college, she worked more than three years at Davis Memorial Hospital and started working at Grant Memorial Hospital after its establishment in 1958. She worked as a nurse for more than 53 years, retiring from nursing in January 2006. She was named to The Who’s Who in Nursing Hall of Fame in 2006 by the American Nurses Association and GMH nurse of the year in 2005 and was a long-standing member of the Harman Presbyterian Church.
She had an avid interest in the care of her farm animals. She was a good shepherd who taught through example a love for all God’s creations. She was always passing little handwritten notes to everyone expressing the joys of faith, hope and love and enjoyed her gardens and preserving food. Cooking for family and strangers alike was her pleasure; there was always a sit down meal most every day. Her hobbies were bird watching and growing beautiful flowers. She was the family’s hub and will be greatly missed.
She was the last surviving member of her immediate family
On Aug. 12, 1950, in Fredericksburg, Maryland, she married Charles Lloyd Sponaugle who proceeded her in death on Dec. 7, 2021. They celebrated 71 years of marriage together.
Also left to cherish her memory are three children, Terry Hilda Teter and husband, John, Sandra Lynn Rhodes and husband, Jerry, and Charles Michael “Micky“ Sponaugle and wife, Cary, two foster children, Ricky Gooden and Tammy Gooden Fenton; like a son, David Tingler; like a daughter, Donna Knotts; seven grandchildren, Melissa Ann Turner, Teresa Jan Chaney, Kimberly Renee Kimbleton, Jennifer Lynn McDonald, Jason Tyler Rhodes, Jessica Nicole Warner, and Charles Robert Connor Gill; 16 great-grandchildren, Autumn, Michael, Jonathan, Shayne, Mason, summer, Dallas, Bailey, Noah, Paisley, Kailyn, Connor, Lucas, Levi, Waylon, Quinton and one in the oven; and six great-great-grandchildren, Briar, Daisy, Amiyah, Elianna, Eston and Stella.
She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Max Blaire Sites, William Rex Sites and Harman Sites.
Her request for cremation was honored.
A celebration of her life is being planned at 5 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Harman Presbyterian Church.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.therandolphfuneralhome.com.
The Randolph Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been entrusted with the arrangements.
