Robert J. Sprague

Robert Julian Sprague, 92, went to heaven on May 23, 2017.

He was born on July 29, 1924, in Athens Ohio to John Rollin Sprague MD and Anna Bernadine Devlin Sprague.

Bob graduated from Ohio State University and did post graduate work at the University of Geneva Switzerland in international studies after the War. He was fluent in five languages. During the War, he served in London, then worked at the train station at Liege Belgium supplying material to the troops fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. He received the Bronze Star for meritorious service in a combat zone. He remained close friends with his English, French and Belgian friends for over 70 years.

He was a member of Phi Delta Theta, the American Rocket Society, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Alliance Francaise de Charleston.

On June 7, 1947 he was married to Carmela Frell Sprague in Warren Ohio. They moved to Geneva where he worked in the finance office of the United Nations, then as a language analyst and cryptographer at the Armed Forces Intelligence Agency in Washington.

Bob then became a research scientist at Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus Ohio for his entire career. At Battelle he translated Russian space journals for the Air Force during the Cold War and he translated captured French documents from the Vietnam War for the Air Force, among other projects. Before retiring from Battelle, he volunteered as a lay Chaplain in the Catholic Hospital emergency room to calm down anxious family members.

After retiring at age 62 Bob moved to France for 2 ½ years pushing wheelchairs along the paths at the Lourdes Shrine as a volunteer. Moving to Charleston, he volunteered 22 years at ECCO in Mt. Pleasant. He volunteered 21 years at local East Cooper Hospital on Tuesday mornings at the front desk. He was mentioned in their most recent newsletter. His other volunteer efforts are too numerous to mention. He loved playing trivia and joining in with his friends at the Palms of Mt Pleasant for their many fun activities which always began with morning coffee with the early morning breakfast club.

He is predeceased by his wife Carmela, daughter Nancy Calkins, his parents, his brothers William, Edward, John and sister Bernadine. He is survived by two daughters Mary Cluley (Eddie) and Anna Frances (George), son-in-law Cliff, grandchildren Edward (Shannon), George (Amy), Gary, Amy (Josh), Jennifer and James. Nine great-grandchildren Edward, Aaron, Allison, Tatum, Reese, Harper, Laney, Camden and Kennedy, and a large extended family of nieces and nephews.

Finally in all of our lives we have only heard him raise his voice one time. He was a father who commanded respect in a soft gentle but firm way. His kind and generous spirit brought him the love and loyalty of family and friends all over the world.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 11:00AM, at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home,1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt, Pleasant, SC 29464.

A private burial will be held.

Memorials may be made to ECCO of Mt. Pleasant or to a charity of one’s choice.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted to www.mcalister-smith.com.

Arrangements entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, Mt Pleasant, 1520 Rifle Range Road Mt Pleasant, South Carolina, 29464, 843) 884-3833.