Diana Marie Spilman
Daughter of Tourist Dies in Lusk Mon.
An eight-year-old girl, Diana Marie Spilman, died at the Spencer Hospital Monday. The child and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Spilman were enroute from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to Maryland. She had not been well on the trip and had been taken to a doctor in San Francisco who didn't consider her very sick and advised the parents to continue on their trip.
Mr. Spilman, formerly of Washington, D. C., was recently discharged from the Marines and had secured a position in Maryland and the family were on their way there when the tragedy befell them.
Mrs. Spilman's former home was at Tarpon Springs, Florida and the body was shipped there for burial. It was taken to Crawford by the Peet Mortuary Monday afternoon.
Lusk Free Lance
June 12, 1952
Tragedy Strikes Family Enroute to East Coast; Daughter Dies Here
Little Diana Marie Spilman, eight-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Spilman of Tarpon Springs, Fla., passed away at seven o'clock, Monday morning, June 9th, at the Spencer hospital. The child had not been feeling well at the time the family started their trip east from San Francisco, Calif., but a physician consulted there told the family that she would be able to make the trip.
As the family progressed on their journey east, Diana continued to feel badly and another doctor was consulted, and he, too, advised the family that they could continue on their way. However, when they reached Lusk the child's condition had reached such a stage that she was placed in the Spencer hospital on Sunday. The cause of her death had not been determined as we go to press.
Diana Marie Spilman was born March 16th, 1944 at Clearwater, Fla. She had attained the age of eight years, two months and twenty-three days at the time of her demise.
The child's father, Walter Spilman, had recently been discharged from the Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He had seen duty in Korea and only recently had returned to the states. The family, Mrs. Rachael Spillman and two children, Diana and Tommy, had gone to meet him in California and the then happy group were enroute home when Diana's death occurred.
The remains were prepared for burial by the Peet mortuary and taken to Crawford, Nebr., on Monday. From Crawford they were shipped to the Vinson Funeral home at Tarpon Springs, Fla., where services will be held and interment will be made.