Arlene L. Spooner
September 16, 1952 – August 7, 2025
Arlene Spooner, a beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend, entered Heaven’s gates surrounded by her loved ones on August 7, 2025. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, William “Ron” Spooner; daughters Carla Dunn (Brian) of Tallahassee, Florida, and Diane Rudd (Lance) of Newnan, Georgia; her sister, Esther Brueck (Albert) of Altamonte Springs, Florida; her brother, Edward Levy of Clarksburg, Maryland; and her brother-in-law, Robert “Bob” Spooner (Vicki) of Havana, Florida. Arlene is also survived by numerous nieces, nephew, great nieces and a great nephew as well as her mother-in-law, Barbara Spooner of Cairo, Georgia, and her aunt, Shirley Adler of Hingham, Massachusetts.
Born in Steubenville, Ohio and raised in Miami, Florida, Arlene graduated from Florida State University in 1974 with a degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education, with an area of specialization in Mathematics. Early in her career, she taught in Memphis, Tennessee, while her husband was in optometry school. In 1976, Arlene and Ron moved to Cairo, Georgia. She continued her career teaching in the Grady County School System before devoting herself to raising her daughters. After her daughters reached school level, Arlene then spent many years assisting her husband in his practice at Cairo Eye Care.
A devoted member of Cairo First Methodist Church, Arlene’s contributions were many. She served in numerous roles, including volunteering as a children’s Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school teacher, and church treasurer. She was also an active participant in the United Methodist Women’s Club. Her community involvement extended to her membership in the Cairo Junior Woman’s Club and later, the Cairo Woman’s Club. For many years, she served as the Chairperson for the Grady County Junior Miss program.
Arlene was passionate about education and helping others. She often shared a piece of wisdom passed down from her mother: “Once you earn your education degree, no one can ever take it away from you.” This belief guided her throughout her life, whether she was tutoring students in math or volunteering with the Grady County GED program or with the English as a Second Language program.
An avid Florida State University fan, Arlene and Ron enjoyed following all FSU sports. They were football season ticket holders for over forty years, and enjoyed attending home football games, including many away games as well as several National Championship games. Above all, Arlene’s proudest role in life was being a mother to her two daughters.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Arlene’s memory to either Cairo First Methodist Church, 318 South Broad Street, Cairo, GA 39828, or Archbold Hospice, 400 Old Albany Road, Thomasville, GA 31792.
Funeral services for Arlene are at 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 11, 2025, at the Cairo First Methodist Church, Cairo, GA. Rev. Sam Vernon and Dr. Bill Baker will officiate. Services will conclude at the church. Private interment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Tom Lehman, Heath Phelps, Chuck Stafford, Howard Thrower, Chuck Tyler and Tommy Smith.
The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall of the Cairo First Methodist Church on Monday, August 11, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.
