More detail on this person: Maj. Larry Shelton
Spinks, US Army, Retired passed away on
December 3, 2016. This information was last updated 01/30/2017
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Date posted on this site:
04/13/2025
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A Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday,
December 9, 2016 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church,
3050 Mt Zion Rd. Stockbridge, GA 30281 with Rev.
Paul Doellinger officiating. The family will
receive friends one hour prior to service at the
church.
Larry was born May 4, 1937 at home on First St. in
Douglasville, GA to Doris Claud (D.C.) (Pepaw) and
Margaret Grace (Elliott) (MeMaw) Spinks, both
deceased. He was also preceded in death by a
sister Linda Lou (Spinks) Williamson.
He is a graduate of Fulton High School in Atlanta,
GA. Retired from the US Army in 1979, after 20
years of service, having served in seven post in
the US and five tours overseas, twice in Germany,
once in Korea and twice in Viet Nam. In addition
to his primary duties as an Artilleryman, Larry
was also a pilot, graduating from helicopter
flight school in 1970 and a logistics specialist.
His decorations included: Bronze Star, Purple
Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army
Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal and
other service medals/ribbons.
After retirement, Larry was involved in Real
Estate for 20 years, having owned and brokered two
companies on the south side of Atlanta. Larry was
a founding member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church
in 1979 and served several times as Congregational
Chairman and many years as Elder, as well as
other positions of leadership.
Larry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Erika
E. (Weinberger) Spinks whom he met and married
in Ansbach, Germany. He is also survived by his
children: son: Friedrich Claud Spinks and wife
Cathy Medora (Jackson) Spinks, their daughters:
Jennifer Kelsey Smith and husband Mike, and
Kelley Medora (Spinks) Elliot and husband Michael,
son: Erik Roland Spinks and wife Kristie (McCord)
Spinks, their son: Jacob Spinks, daughter: Heidi
Martina (Harris) Poe, her daughters: Kayla
Danielle (Harris) Philmon and Danielle Nicole Poe,
and her son: Kyle Shelton Poe, Kayla's husband:
Lee Brent Philmon and their son: Brody Jett
Philmon and daughter: Josie Lee Philmon, Brent's
sons: Kory Philmon, Max Philmon and Zane
Philmon, his sister: Ellen Francis Melle (Spinks)
Cooper, seven nephews and nieces and many
cousins.
Published on Ford-Stewart Funeral Home website
12/03/2016.
Burial: Cremated, Location of ashes is unknown.
Major (then Captain) Larry S. Spinks was the last
Executive Officer of the 242d ASHC (Muleskinners)
in 1971, prior to stand down in Vietnam. Larry was
an avid bridge player and could be found most
nights battling the Operations Officer's team at
the bridge table in the OK Corral in beautiful
downtown Phu Loi.
From: Edward Luttenberger