John Thomas Spake, Jr.

John Thomas “Johnny” Spake, Jr. 84, of Asheville, NC, passed away on the evening of Friday, June 15, 2023, at Mission Hospital, after experiencing a stroke while in the hospital recovering from heart surgery. Johnny was born on October 20, 1938, at home in a house on Brook Street in the Biltmore Village. Some of his fondest memories were of his childhood growing up in Biltmore Village and later spending most of his career working there also. After Johnny graduated from Biltmore High School in 1958, Johnny joined his stepfather in the running of Tri-Co Service Station, also located on Brook Street, in the Biltmore Village. After the closing of the gas station in 1987, Johnny joined his stepfather and brothers to work at Pulliam Properties in property maintenance until his retirement in 2005. Johnny was a member of the Biltmore Masonic Lodge #0446 and an Oasis Shriner. Johnny was predeceased in death by his mother, Norma Faye Pulliam, and his stepfather, Winston Walden Pulliam. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Billie Joyce Bunn Spake; their son, John David Spake; and two grandsons: Walden Alexander “Alex” Spake and Oliver Seabury Spake; their mother, Holli Alexandra Tow; his brother, Winston Walden "Rusty" Pulliam, Jr.; his stepbrother, Lawrence Calvin "Larry" Pulliam; his nieces and nephews: Ava Elizabeth Pulliam, Parker Lawrence Pulliam, Dustin Calvin Pulliam; and his great niece and nephew: Reese Marie Pulliam and Talyn Beckett Pulliam. The family would like to thank all the members of the medical community that provided Johnny with excellent care and the family with tremendous support including Dr. Richard Bock, Dr. Kent Williamson, Dr. Tom Gleason, the nursing staff of Mission’s Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), the neurologists of Mission's Stroke Center and especially Dr. Rick Arwood of Blue Ridge Premier Medicine, Johnny’s primary care physician, who was irreplaceable to the family in navigating the prior 7 weeks of medical appointments and procedures. The family will be forever grateful for Rick’s support and guidance. The family will have a private graveside service at a future date and in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Givens Communities Ministries fund for the care and preservation of the Norma F. Pulliam Chapel at Givens Estates via Givens Development 2360 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803 or 828-771-2649.

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John Thomas Spake, Jr.

October 20, 1938 - June 15, 2023