1914
Pansie
2014
Pansie Riddlespurger
January 6, 1914 — July 22, 2014
Pansie Riddlespurger
January 6, 1914 - July 22, 2014
Pansie Riddlespurger, of Amarillo died on Tuesday, July 22, 2014. Private Graveside Services will be held at Llano Cemetery with Pastor Jeff Messer officiating. Arrangements are by LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Funeral Directors, 8310 S. Coulter.
Pansie Riddlespurger was born on January 6, 1914 to Thomas Hendrix (T.H.) and Lillie Pickett in Blake, Oklahoma. She grew up as their only child on a farm in the Heald community in Gray County near Mclean and graduated from Mclean High School in 1933 at the height of the Great Depression.
After graduation, she attended Lippert's Business College in Plainview. Jobs were very hard to come by and she worked for her room and board by cooking and washing dishes. She held various jobs in Plainview taking dictation and doing other work that needed to be done around the office. Pansie's first permanent job was as a secretary for the Brownfield State Bank. She worked for the Federal Reserve where she counted money in the vault. Pansie then returned home to live in McLean but wanted to continue her education. She was able to borrow $100 from her Aunt Myrtle and went back to business school. After finishing her business school, she went to work for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Pampa. She also worked in the office at Culbertson Chevrolet.
One day during her lunch time, she went to take a test for a government job. After just a couple of days, she was told that she was approved and relocated to Amarillo where she went to work for the VA Hospital. For five or six years she worked there in the Medical Division and took dictation from doctors. She bought a medical dictionary and studied at night so she would be better at her job. Through 1947 she was the secretary for Dr. Wegener, the Clinical Director.
Pansie met her future husband, Walter Kay Riddlespurger, in Amarillo at a First Presbyterian Church social. They were married on October 28, 1946 and they began a home based plumbing business, and once again, she had to learn a new skill as she kept the books for the business. Pansie enjoyed shorthand so much that she began using this skill to correspond with her aunt in Oklahoma. Pansie always spoke of her Aunt Myrtle with fondness as she told stories of their letters written in "secret code."
Pansie stayed busy with the office end of the plumbing business but also found time to help with her two daughters' school through PTA. For several years, she enjoyed visiting with her neighbors while selling Avon products. Pansie loved her dogs and could be seen walking them around West Hills every day.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter in 1988.
She is survived by her daughters, Martha Riddlespurger of Amarillo and Marla Riddlespurger of Lubbock.
The family would like to offer special thanks to the staff of Bivins Memorial Nursing Home who have provided her with quality care, love and laughter for the past five years. Thanks also to Hospice Care of the Southwest for their support during her final days.
January 6, 1914 - July 22, 2014
Pansie Riddlespurger, of Amarillo died on Tuesday, July 22, 2014. Private Graveside Services will be held at Llano Cemetery with Pastor Jeff Messer officiating. Arrangements are by LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Funeral Directors, 8310 S. Coulter.
Pansie Riddlespurger was born on January 6, 1914 to Thomas Hendrix (T.H.) and Lillie Pickett in Blake, Oklahoma. She grew up as their only child on a farm in the Heald community in Gray County near Mclean and graduated from Mclean High School in 1933 at the height of the Great Depression.
After graduation, she attended Lippert's Business College in Plainview. Jobs were very hard to come by and she worked for her room and board by cooking and washing dishes. She held various jobs in Plainview taking dictation and doing other work that needed to be done around the office. Pansie's first permanent job was as a secretary for the Brownfield State Bank. She worked for the Federal Reserve where she counted money in the vault. Pansie then returned home to live in McLean but wanted to continue her education. She was able to borrow $100 from her Aunt Myrtle and went back to business school. After finishing her business school, she went to work for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Pampa. She also worked in the office at Culbertson Chevrolet.
One day during her lunch time, she went to take a test for a government job. After just a couple of days, she was told that she was approved and relocated to Amarillo where she went to work for the VA Hospital. For five or six years she worked there in the Medical Division and took dictation from doctors. She bought a medical dictionary and studied at night so she would be better at her job. Through 1947 she was the secretary for Dr. Wegener, the Clinical Director.
Pansie met her future husband, Walter Kay Riddlespurger, in Amarillo at a First Presbyterian Church social. They were married on October 28, 1946 and they began a home based plumbing business, and once again, she had to learn a new skill as she kept the books for the business. Pansie enjoyed shorthand so much that she began using this skill to correspond with her aunt in Oklahoma. Pansie always spoke of her Aunt Myrtle with fondness as she told stories of their letters written in "secret code."
Pansie stayed busy with the office end of the plumbing business but also found time to help with her two daughters' school through PTA. For several years, she enjoyed visiting with her neighbors while selling Avon products. Pansie loved her dogs and could be seen walking them around West Hills every day.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter in 1988.
She is survived by her daughters, Martha Riddlespurger of Amarillo and Marla Riddlespurger of Lubbock.
The family would like to offer special thanks to the staff of Bivins Memorial Nursing Home who have provided her with quality care, love and laughter for the past five years. Thanks also to Hospice Care of the Southwest for their support during her final days.
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