Dinah Spilman

Laura Elizabeth Wiles Spilman, 93, known to most as "Dinah" since birth, was born in Cadiz, KY on Wednesday, October 7, 1925 to James Henry and Sally May Wharton Wiles. Dinah passed away on Saturday, June 22, 2019, in Cookeville, Tennessee. Dinah retired from the Employment Office of the State of Tennessee in 1987, but her true occupation was as a teacher! She taught at Peabody College, Belmont College, elementary schools, and Tennessee Tech before finishing her career as an Employment Counselor. Dinah graduated from Owensboro High School (Kentucky) before completing a BS in Business Education at Murray State University. She went on to graduate school at George Peabody College, completing her MS in Business Education in 1947. During graduate school, she met the love of her life, Ed Spilman, who happened to be her accounting teacher! They married in 1948 and shared life together for 55 years until he passed in 2003. She became a Christian at 14 and all through her education years was active in The Baptist Student Union and the churches she attended. Her faith in Jesus was a significant part of her life. Since moving to Cookeville, TN in 1962, Dinah was active at First Baptist Church and was a long-time member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class. She volunteered frequently to help others in the church whether it was to take a meal or to serve others. During her years at Tennessee Tech, she served as an advisor, and was a charter initiate member of Delta Upsilon chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority. Although she claimed to know nothing about sports when she married Ed, she was a devoted spectator at major sporting events at Tennessee Tech. She and Ed were dedicated Eaglettes basketball fans, and made it a practice to get to know every player by taking each member to dinner at least once per year. She sat on the front row with Ed for many years cheering the Eaglettes. Dinah's children were her primary focus, attending many softball, baseball, and tennis matches. This also involved driving them many miles to games and matches all over the southeast. She became a dedicated Atlanta Braves fan, attending spring training every year for 10 years with Ed and watching games on TV. She was a noted bridge player since college and she and Ed hosted many bridge parties at their home. In recent years, she regularly played bridge at the Cookeville Senior Center and made it a point to tell her health care providers her goal for getting well was to be able to walk into the center so she could play bridge! Dinah was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, James Edwin (Ed) Spilman. She is survived by three children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Carol and Drew Krogsgard of Birmingham, Alabama; Jim and Kitty Spilman, of Jacksonville, FL; Bob and Becky Spilman of Memphis, TN; Five grandchildren and their families, Jeffrey Krogsgard (Wife Mary Jane, children Anna Beth and James) of Birmingham, Brian Krogsgard (Wife Erica, children Evan and Calvin) of Birmingham, Katie Spilman (fiance' Alex Mette) of Austin, TX, Kellie Mitchell (Husband Patrick), and Kasey Spilman of Memphis, TN; brother, Bill Wiles and his wife Lessley, of York, PA, their son Kenneth Wiles, and his daughters, Cameron and Lauren, of Austin, TX. She is also survived by several cousins in Kentucky and Florida. The family wants to recognize Ms. Debbie Garrett, of Allons, Tennessee who has been a faithful care-giver for Dinah since February 6, 2012. Debbie has been her caregiver, cook, driver, and friend. She is the reason Dinah was able to stay in her home as she desired with such loving, attentive, care. In addition, since last September, Debbie's daughter, Tara White, has provided love and care for Dinah during the night so she could stay safely at her home. Funeral services will be held Friday June 28 at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home with Pastors Mike Head and Bill Stone officiating. Mrs. Spilman's family will receive friends Friday from 11 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Interment will be at Crest Lawn Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jeffrey and Brian Krogsgard, Patrick Mitchell, Alex Mette, Steve Sharpe, Richard Newman, and Kenneth Wiles. The family requests memorial gifts for Dinah be made in her honor to First Baptist Church, 18 S. Walnut Avenue, Cookeville, Tennessee 38501. Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (931)526-6111) Share memories and condolences at hhhfunerals.com