John Calvin Spivey, Jr. Lt Col, US Army, Ret.
John Spivey’s death on 24 March 2018 was announced by his sister, Maxine Tippett of Carthage, North Carolina. The cause was brain cancer. John was born in rural White Hill, Moore County, North Carolina. He joined the Army when he was 17 years old and left the service after 23 years as a Lieutenant colonel.
His first assignment took him to Korea in support of Marines for the invasion of Inchon Korea in mid-September 1950. As an enlisted non-com he participated in the nuclear testing at Yucca Flats, Nevada.
John graduated from Officers’ Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia in September 1955 and from the Command and General Staff College in 1969-1970. He was assigned to the Security Agency Materials Support Command at Arlington, Hall. Along the way his assignments included, in addition to Korea as an NCO, NATO, Vietnam, Indochina, Germany, and Turkey.
He retired from the service in 1972. During his retirement years he obtained a pilot’s license, traveled to over 195 countries including the Arctic and Antarctic. He was a member of the Army-Navy Country Club; a volunteer with Meals on Wheels and did escort duty as a member of the Auxiliary at the Virginia Hospital Center. He participated in the Army’s program to assist new retires. His great sport was tennis. As an amateur he had a vast collection of trophies which the family plans to install in a “John Calvin Madison Spivey Memorial” on Spivey Road in Carthage.
He leaves behind in addition to his sister, Maxine, his brother Lendon; his good friend Ruth Kolozy and many beloved nieces, nephews, most of Carthage as well as friends in the Northern Virginia area.
As is his want, John will be at rest at Putnam Friends Church, 136 Putnam Church Road, Carthage, North Carolina.
Offer Condolence for the family of John Calvin Spivey, Jr., Lt.Col, USArmy, Ret.
I served with first Lt Spivey Germany 1955-6
I held in high regard then
He was a fine leader
I left as a Sergeant – he wanted me to re- enlist but I
Was determined to go home !
Lt Spivey always looked after his men
A fine career for sure RIP
Dear Family : LtC John Spivey was a friend of my father’s and of mine in the Army stationed in Rothwesten, Germany, and in Leavenworth, Kansas, where he very patiently attempted to teach me to play tennis. (I was a freshman at St. Mary College by then, Fall 1968.) I was fond of him, a witty, kind, very handsome “older” man, but I was too immature by comparison to be a good match for him, either in tennis or as a date. But I remember John Spivey! He was a fine man. RIP, John, and thank you for your friendship.
John was a member of the Army Security Agecncy Officers Class, 1962/63, at Ft. Devens, MA. As a member of the short and/or long course he became a beloved member of the AWK class fraternity. John attended many of our reunions and we all always had a wonderful time in reliving our military experiences. As we say in the AWKs “John was a good guy” and he will be missed by all of us. We all wish God’s Blessings and comfort to all of the family.
As an aside, would someone in the family please send us a contact.
Volunteered with John with the VHC Auxiliary for many years. He was a great guy and we will all miss him tremendously! Rest in peace, John.