Mark A. Spalding

Mark A. Spalding, 60, North Manchester, Indiana, passed away December 28, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family. Mark was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, in what was then Salisbury, Rhodesia, on March 13, 1960 to Chris and Rosemary (Shepherd) Spalding.

After completing his military service, Mark came to the United States to study. In 1983 he graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s degree in English and French teaching, and in 1987 with a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Mark returned to Zimbabwe and started teaching for some time, before returning to the United States, where he taught in South-Central Los Angeles. In 1996 Mark graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a Master’s degree in French teaching. Mark later taught at both Manchester College, North Manchester, Indiana and Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Most recently, Mark worked as an Academic Tutor for Ivy Tech Community College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Those truly fortunate enough to know Mark Spalding, will remember him for his intelligent, tidy, religious, compassionate, witty, and professional behavior. He was truly a remarkable man that was gifted as a teacher, poet, and an astonishing storyteller.

In 1997 Mark converted to Catholicism and most recently was a member of St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, North Manchester, Indiana. A devout Christian, Mark put his faith in the Lord for the trials and tribulations of his cancer diagnosis.

The loving memory of Mark A. Spalding will be forever cherished by his parents, Chris and Rosemary Spalding, Lindon, Utah; brother, Gary Spalding, Columbia Falls, Montana; and sister, Mandy (Bob) Lane, Lindon, Utah; and countless friends and colleagues.                                                 .

A funeral Mass will be held Friday, January 1, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 1203 East State Road 114, North Manchester, Indiana, with the recitation of the Rosary starting at 1:00 p.m.  The family of Mark Spalding, will receive friends following Mass. Father Dennis DiBenedetto will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor the memory of Mark Spalding, memorial contributions may be made to the Knights of Columbus, 1203 East State Road 114, North Manchester, Indiana 46962 or St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 1203 East State Road 114, North Manchester, Indiana 46962.

“I haven’t the resources or the will to withstand an empire; but I do have the wherewithal to collect my thoughts, to breathe in the smell of the rain, to marvel at the colors of the sunset, and to rejoice, in the fall, at the bales of hay dotting the fields between North Manchester and Fort Wayne. …

I fully realize that there will come a fall without me; when that time comes at least I will not have spent my time in battle, but at peace—and that is all that I can ask.”

from Mark A. Spalding, “The Mahatma Protocol” in Chapters on Life

Arrangements are entrusted to McKee Mortuary.