Marcella A. Spitzbarth

Marcella “Marcy” A. Spitzbarth, 91, Bismarck, died October 18, 2016, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, October 21, 2016, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E Divide Ave, Bismarck with Father Terry Wipf officiating. Burial will be held in Arlington National Cemetery, VA, next to her husband at a later date. Marcella was born November 22, 1924, to George and Kathrine Schoenecker in Washburn, ND. She graduated from Washburn High School in 1942. Marcella entered nurses training that year at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck and graduated in 1945 after completing her training at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital, as a cadet nurse, in 1945. She worked for several years in ND, IL, and TX, before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corp in 1955. Marcella served at Ellington Air Force Base (now Johnson Space Center) and after attending flight nurses school was reassigned to Rheim-Mein AFB in Germany where she flew air evac for two years. While there she met and married her husband, Charles Spitzbarth. She was released from active duty in 1959 when they returned to the States. After several assignments at various Air Force Bases and a second tour in Germany, they returned to Fairchild AFB where Lt. Col. Spitzbarth retired and they made their home in Spokane, WA. After being widowed in 1981, Marcella enjoyed traveling all over the world with friends, tours, and elder hostels. While in Spokane she belonged to Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral Altar Society, Sr. Bridgitts bridge group, Retired AF Nurses Association, and auxiliary member of Military Officers of America. Marcella is survived by her brother, George (Kathleen) Schoenecker; three nephews and one niece. Marcella was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. Spirtzbarth, USAF Ret.; her parents; a sister, Margaret Gebhardt and a niece, Kathleen Schoenecker.