Kate Spainhower Pioneer In Inyo County Education

Owens Valley lost a prominent citizen, universally admired 
and respected by all who knew her, in the death of Mrs. 
Katherine Spainhower in Lone Pine, July 7.

Mrs. Spainhower, Kate to her friends, was born in 
Greenville, Plumas county, Calif., July 3, in 1884, the 
daughter of Charles and Katherine Walter.  The family 
moved to Inyo in 1886, where Kate spent the rest of her 
life.

Her father was a prominent man in local affairs of an 
earlier day, being engaged in the newspaper business and 
receiver of the US General Land Office when that office 
was maintained in Independence.  Her mother was a member 
of the Mulholland family, long connected with 
Independence.

Her parents filed on a homestead on Goodale Creek, south 
and east of where Aberdeen Station now is.  And from 
there she began her education, attending the Taboose 
school, which stood in rather a picturesque setting in a 
grove of trees on the west side of the old county road.  
At that early age she gave evidence of the character and 
ability that the years were to develop, for she was a 
reliable, studious and ambitious girl, doing her homework 
and other reading while she watched a band of sheep that 
the family owned.

She was granted a certificate to teach June 10, 1903, and 
five years later was granted a permanent certificate by 
the county board of education and a life diploma by the 
State Board of Education.  On April 7, 1908, she became a 
member of the County Board of Education and served 
uninterruptedly on the board for the next 48 years.

From April of 1908 until her retirement from public life 
in 1956, 53 years of her life were devoted to educational 
work.  The welfare of the children of Inyo and the 
improvement of Inyo’s educational system were ever 
uppermost in her mind.

She taught at Citrus, the school that once stood near the 
east bank of the river on the Mazourka Canyon Road; and 
also taught at the old Union school near where the highway 
crosses the aqueduct south of Manzanar.  She and her 
mother lived nearby.  Later she taught in Independence, 
Owenyo and Lone Pine.

Her former pupils are too numerous to mention, but all of 
them look back with the fondest of memories to the time 
she was their helpful, kindhearted teacher.

For a time she owned the Inyo Independent and was 
associated in its management and publication.

She and Russel Spainhower were married in Independence in 
August of 1913, and when the homestead at Aberdeen was 
sold they invested the proceeds in the ranch property 
south of Lone Pine which they jointly operated until 
Russell’s death.  They developed this property into a 
cattle set-up second to none in Inyo county.  After 
Russell’s death she continued to take an active part in 
the management of the ranch until the very last.

Funeral services were conducted in Trinity Episcopal 
Church of Lone Pine, of which she was a member. Rev. 
Robert F. Slocum officiated.  Interment followed at 
Independence Cemetery where she was buried by the side of 
her husband.  Pallbearers were Omie Mairs, Bob White, 
William Bauer, Bruce Morgan, Joe Bonham and Arthur Roy.  
Frank Krater, Arlie Briely, Frank Chrysler and John Lubken 
were honorary pallbearers.

She is survived by two daughters, Joy Anderson and Jean 
Norland; five grandchildren, Tom Russell Noland, Patrick 
Noland, Jerre Katherine Noland, Catherine Anderson and 
Jean Gay Anderson; two sons-in-law, Thomas Noland and 
Wayne Anderson, and two cousins, Harry I. Mack of Lone 
Pine, and Charles Mulholland of Pasadena.

Kate was a dutiful daughter, a loyal wife and a perfect 
mother.  Quiet and unassuming, she was a woman with rare 
good judgment, with a host of friends.  She was admired 
and loved most by those who knew her best.  Her absence 
leaves a void that none can fill.

The Inyo Register
Bishop, Inyo County, California
Thursday, July 18, 1963 – Page two

Transcribed by Denise S. Flynn