Myles Walter Spann Jr.

Myles Walter Spann, Jr., died Jan. 22. He was 67.

Spann was born in San Francisco, Calif. to the Myles Walter Spann, Sr. and Eveyln Grove Spann. He was welcomed by five generations of family.

Spann began his career in 1963 at the Alameda Naval Air Station in electronics support working on several of his many passions, mainly aircraft and naval ships. In April of 1970, he was employed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as a tech supervisor for the Defense Sciences Engineering Department of Electronics Engineering. He provided a variety of electronic support to field tests at the Nevada Test Site for both underground and tunnel shots, lasers and the LGF Program. Spann was a meticulous electronics and mechanical go-to guy with the strong problem-solving skills necessary to invent, test and trouble shoot new designs. He possessed the skills essential in trial-and-error experiments with prototypes during his career at LLNL. He retired from LLNL in April of 2004.

Spann was a licensed pilot, an avid reader, a historian of military history with particular emphasis on the late 1800s to current events. He was a consummate punster with a wicked and subtle sense of humor. Spann was also a Master Mason of the Mosaic Lodge #218 and a PER of the Elks Lodge #2117 both in Livermore.

Spann is predeceased by his parents Myles Walter Spann, Sr. and Eveyln Grove Spann and sister Nancy Spann. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Jannelle, also a retired LLNL employee; daughter, Kyrsten; grandson, Orion Evern Myles; sisters, Janice Mensik, Willows, Clif., Kathy Jones, Maxwell, Calif., and Jerilyn Lightfoot, Santa Clara, Calif.; and various aunts and cousins in Wisconsin and Indiana.

Any donations to his memory should be sent to the Caring For Carcinoid Foundation; Stanford Hospital, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, Calif. 94305 Attn: Dr. Pamela Kunz, MD; Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Mass. 02115 in support of those affected by the Boston Marathon tragedy; or the Semper Fi Fund to support our wounded warriors.