Rafaela Theresa (Rubio) Spears

February 24, 1939 - November 3, 2017

Rafaela Theresa (Rubio) Spears, daughter of the late Isabel Franco and Eulalia Jimenez Rubio, was born February 24, 1939 in San Antonio, Texas. She passed away November 3, 2017 in the Cox South Hospital of Springfield, Missouri having attained the age of 78 years. Rafaela grew up in San Antonio where she attended school. She married and four children were born to this union. For a time, Rafaela lived in Chicago, Illinois and worked at Playskool Toy Factory before moving back to San Antonio. Rafaela was united in marriage to Joe Spears, who was an active duty soldier. They lived at different duty stations including Ft Bragg, Ft Benning and Ft Leonard Wood. They came to Ft. Leonard Wood in 1972 and she began working at the Post Exchange. She was employed there for 8 years before beginning at EDP and served there for 25 years before her retirement. Rafaela was a lifetime member of the VFW #3176 Post Ladies Auxiliary of St. Robert. She loved spending time with her family, and also with a special friend…her Yorkie who was named Sugar. Rafaela will be sadly missed, but fondly remembered by all those that knew and loved her. She leaves to cherish her memory, her loving family; two children: Rodney (Roxanna) Wright and Cynthia (David) Reed; three siblings: Jesse Rubio, Carmen (Darold) Burnett and Judy Casner; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Rafaela was preceded in death by two sons: Dennis Wright and Michael Wright; one sister: Mary Connelly; and one great granddaughter: Emberlee Lorraine. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Rafaela Spears to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital may be left at the funeral home.