Obituary

Lorene Hargrove Springer

November 16, 1927 - April 29, 2021

 

Lorene Hargrove Springer of Abilene passed away peacefully on April 29th at the age of 93.

 

She fought a heroic and successful battle with many health challenges over the past years.

 

She will be remembered for her many accomplishments in music and in life.

 

Lorene was a music performer, educator, mentor, and terrific Mother. She felt her greatest gift and pleasure was enriching the lives of her students, friends, colleagues, and family.

 

Additionally, Lorene enjoyed those she encountered during her many years of travel while judging with the National Piano Guild.

 

She was born to John S. Hargrove and Zetha Lucille (Barnett) Hargrove on November 16, 1927, in Clay County, Texas. She spent her early years on the family farm which provided her first education of hard work and discipline.

 

Lorene was always interested and involved with her music from an early age. Later, she earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Hardin Simmons University, 1954 and her Masters in Piano Performance, Howard Payne University, 1967.

 

Her freelance piano teaching started and covered periods in Fort Worth, Texas, Brownfield, Texas, California, and finally in Abilene, Texas, since 1963. She was a judge for the National Guild of Piano Teachers since 1974 and was a certified piano teacher.

 

Her membership included the Music Teachers National Association (certified) and Abilene Music Teachers Association (President 1972-1974, Plague 1974, 91. She was named Abilene Music Teacher of the Year, 1989, to the Hall of Fame Piano Guild United States of America, 1971; Teaching fellow Texas Music Teacher Assn, 2008, Beta Mu Kappa (Secretary 1953-1954).

 

Lorene enjoyed her church family and was a member of First Baptist Church Abilene since 1963.

 

She married her loving husband C. L. Springer in 1950 and was married for 46 wonderful years until he passed in 1996. Between them both, they touched the lives of young and old.

 

She is survived by her only son Michael John Springer and his wife Sheila (Colleyville, Texas), her only sibling, Betty Casey, and husband Lt. Col. (Ret) Bob Casey (San Antonio, Texas), her niece Karen Gentz andhusband David (Dallas, Texas), her nephew Pastor Kevin Casey and wife Melanie, and their children Jules and Chris (Decatur, Texas), and niece Kelly Casey and daughter Rose (San Antonio, Texas).

 

The family wishes to acknowledge with love our very special neighbors and extended family Lt. Col. (Ret) Will O. Speight and his wife Billie. Also, our very special family friends, Sherry and Joe Frush, Connie and Jesse Ramon, and their wonderful children who were students of Lorene’s: Asia, Buddy, John Luke, Ave Maria, and Abigail.

 

Finally, we are grateful to all those who assisted Lorene from Visiting Angels, Brightpointe at Lytle Lake, Hendrick Hospice, and the prayers from her First Baptist Church family.

 

A funeral service and celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Church Abilene on May 7th, 2021 at 11:00 AM, under the direction of Girdner Funeral Home Abilene. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Ministries.