Omer Franklin "Frank" Spurlock

Sunday, August 10, 2014
Omer Franklin "Frank" Spurlock

Omer Franklin "Frank" Spurlock, 74, passed from this life on May 29, 2014, in the company of his loving sister, Mary Bess, while they were visiting their cousin, Esther Ruth Lorance Jones, at her home in Bryant, Ark.

Frank was born on April 20, 1940, in the Black Water Community to the late Omer and Bess Spurlock. He spent the first three years of his life in the Black Water teacherage. His father was the superintendent at Black Water High School, and he also coached the basketball teams. His mother was the English teacher.

In addition to his sister, who is a resident of New York, Frank is survived by numerous cousins and a large number of close friends.

Frank was a longtime resident of Brooklyn, Ohio. He had a distinguished career at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. He developed and operated the first computer program used to design optimum launch trajectories for many prominent U.S. space missions for almost 30 years.

On a personal level, he was dedicated and tireless in his recruiting, mentoring, and developing new employees. Many of these now hold mid-and senior-level positions at NASA and elsewhere.

A Memorial Mass to celebrate Frank's life was held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Brooklyn, Ohio, on Saturday, July 12, followed immediately by a reception in the church hall.

In Frank's memory, friends are invited to donate to the Black Water Baptist Church or to the newly-named Frank Spurlock Science Camp, North End Foundation of Berea, 634 Wesley Drive, Berea, Ohio 44017.