Bobby Edward Spiers

Bobby Edward Spiers, 87, of Bellville, Texas announced, “I’m ready to go. Turn off the TV.”, and breathed his last shortly after on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Undoubtedly, he was greeted by the loving arms of Jesus, his wife of 63 years, Zella Mardell Schubert Spiers; parents, Robert Hall Spiers and Meda Warf Spiers; his sister, Shirley Elizabeth Schecter; brothers-in-law, Larry Schecter, McGuire Thomas and Richard Lewis; and countless other friends and family.

Born February 1st on the family farm in Sussex County during a winter storm, Bobby grew and excelled in school. According to the local paper, he was president of both his Junior and Senior class, president of the local FFA chapter, and the Methodist Youth Fellowship, played left field in baseball, guard on the basketball team, sang in the glee club and was a public speaking winner. Upon being named 1955 Star Farmer of Virginia, his father was quoted, “…He’s got the ability to do what he wants all right…We’ve taught ‘em that anything they can do to help the school, the church--do it.” His father also mentioned a certain redhead in that article. That redhead, Zella, spotted Bobby and invited him to a Sadie Hawkins picnic. By October of 1954, she was wearing his class ring.

Bobby began his college career at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in the fall of 1955, known today as Virginia Tech. Homesick for Zella, Bobby would have returned to the farm, but his father insisted that he complete his college education. As soon as Zella graduated from High School, they were married. After a short time living apart while Zella stayed on the farm, they both lived in Blacksburg when he graduated in 1959. Bobby began active duty in the Army Reserve National Guard in August 1960, receiving an honorable discharge in February 1966 achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant.

He began his work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1960 and after 3 years of managing the ASCS (Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service) office in Boydton, the family (Zella, Jeff, Jennifer and Mitch) moved to Richmond. Bobby worked as a program specialist at the Virginia State ASCS office in Richmond until an opportunity arose to work with the Foreign Agriculture Service, in conjunction with NASA in 1972. This work led to moving the family, now complete with David and Amanda, to Houston, Texas. When his children asked, Dad, what do you do at work, he would recommend that they reply, “ASCS for the USDA at NASA”. His official title, we learned upon his retirement, was Manager of Data Acquisition, Preprocessing, and Transmission for the Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment. Arriving in Clear Lake City in February 1973 with children ranging in age from 5 to 11, the family jumped into suburban living, with Bobby coaching the boys in Little League football and baseball, which would eventually lead Bobby to another of his great passions in life: umpiring and refereeing.

In 1983, when the project he managed was moved back to Washington, he was given the option to continue his work. Wanting to remain in Texas where they had put down roots in their community with friends, their church, and with their older children anchored in Texas, Bobby begrudgingly accepted the D.C. position and moved with Zella and Amanda back to Virginia. He finished out his years with the Department of Agriculture, retiring in 1992 having traveled all over North America, to France, to Africa, and to Buenos Aires receiving numerous merits and citations, and personal letters of appreciation for his work in the Foreign Agriculture Service. The Landsat program that was his major work was quoted in the July 1976, National Geographic as one of the most important national initiatives ever conceived and implemented in our 200 years of existence.

Upon “retiring” at age 55, He and Zella bought a homeplace in Goochland County where he renewed his woodworking, using it to build Zella a luxury bedroom suite on their home and a horse barn and paddock, which they stocked with horses, Norman and Lady. They also enjoyed hosting children and grandchildren, who delighted in seeing this “new” lifestyle.

Bobby grew in his skill as a football referee and a baseball umpire. Upon retirement, he spent more of his free time honing his skills and driving up and down the east coast calling baseball games at different levels of play. He was honored to umpire his first Babe Ruth 13-year-old World Series in 1994 in Concord New Hampshire. He umpired thousands of games from little league, high school, college and summer-league games before he finally retired from this second profession.

Two more moves were ahead for Bobby and Zella; In 1997 they moved to Rawlings VA, closer to their childhood home. Bobby and Zella gathered with dear childhood friends during these years. Bobby continued to build. Another addition to their 100-year-old farmhouse, another barn and paddock, and anything their church needed in the way of handyman duties. Bobby was always faithful in his commitment to his church, supporting it by serving faithfully and giving generously.

Bobby and Zella made their final move in 2014 to Bellville, Texas, strategically chosen to be at the epicenter of their United States residing children. The move was made to provide additional support for Bobby as Zella’s memory was beginning to decline. Bobby and Zella made fast friendships with their neighbors and their Sunday School Class. They also volunteered at the local Elementary school as reading “listeners” to the kids. They were known by the Bellville Library ladies as they continued their voracious habit of reading, checking out stacks of books at a time. Bobby cared faithfully for Zella as her health declined, insisting on taking the major burden of caring for her until her death in March 2022.  Until his sudden decline in health later that year, Bobby remained active with his church, his family and friends, with his ultimate joy seeing and holding the newest arrivals to the family. Bobby was always enamored by the babies.

Bobby is survived by his children who loved and respected him deeply: Jeffrey Spiers, Jennifer Janney (Joseph), Mitchell Spiers (Kerry), David  Spiers (Laura) and Amanda Spiers; grandchildren, Lydia  Scott (Casey), Bobbie Louise Spiers, Kayla Bravenec (John), Sarah Young (Joseph), Taylor Guzman (Luis), Matthew Janney ,(Samantha)  J.D. and Allison Spiers, Nathan and Mary Lynn Spiers, Brooke and Zac McCormack; great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Anabelle, Abigail, Ensley, Gage, Brewer, Emily, Charlie, Garrett (plus a boy, Oliver, due next month).

Bobby is also survived by brother, Robert (Faye); sisters, Gale, and Patricia; and brother-in-law, Kevin Schubert (Theo) and his family, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

The family members extend their gratitude to the loving and cheerful caregivers of Magnolia Assisted Living Care Home and Acara Hospice in Bellville Texas for their outstanding care for Bobby.

Family and friends are invited to join us for a visitation at 10 AM on Thursday, January 23 at Owen Funeral Home in Jarratt, 303 Halifax Rd, Jarratt VA. The funeral will follow at 11 AM. A private interment will follow. The family is requesting memorial gifts be made in the name of Bobby and Zella Spiers to the Alzheimer's Association.