Bonnie Spillman and her family joyfully, and sorrowfully, announce that Dr. Richard Jay Spillman was taken home to live with Jesus forever on October 14, 2023. Dr. Spillman was born to Jack and Evelyn Huppert-Spillman on September 13, 1949, in Tacoma, Washington. Richard spent most of his life in the Tacoma area but lived the last seven years with his family in Sandy, Oregon. He was a professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at Pacific Lutheran University for 32 years and received a lifetime award for his teaching and service to the University.
During his teaching career, Dr. Spillman also wrote. He authored many articles and several books in his field, but also wrote books and articles for the Christian community. His crowning achievement was a set of award-winning Christian fiction thrillers. (The Awakened and The Ascension). Perhaps closest to his heart was his role as leader and co-founder of a Christian ministry organization dedicated to taking disadvantaged people from America to share Jesus’ love with disadvantaged people of other countries around the world.
Richard is survived by his wife Bonnie, two daughters: Annie Rice and Kimberly Normand and 5 grandchildren: Trevor, Hayden, Lily, Rosie and Jacob. As well as two of his siblings, Mark Spillman and Colleen Prock.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Tacoma, WA.