Margaret Pilar Spurlin

On February 17, 2017 Margaret Pilar Batten Spurlin passed away in Manassas, from complications from lung cancer. She is survived by her son Kevern Spurlin & his wife Julie, and their children Ellie, Jack & Ben, and her daughter Jennifer Bertulaitis & her husband Pete, and their children Eric & Meredith. In addition, she is survived by her younger brother Tony Batten, and five first cousins (Jennifer, Fauzi, Patricia, Theo & Paul), as well as further extended family, all of whom live in the United Kingdom. She also had some dearly beloved friends who were like family to her: Kathy & Jim, Cathy, Nancy, Linda, Bev & Dean. Maggie was born in January 1942 in Jerusalem, Palestine, to Lucien Espaniolo and Nada Canaan. Her grandfather, Dr. Tewfik Canaan, was a prominent Palestinian doctor who counted people of all faiths as friends and patients, and her grandmother was Margot Eilender Canaan. Her parents divorced in 1947 and she went to Lyndley School, a boarding school in the UK, now known as Hawley Place. She spent holidays with her aunt in the UK, and graduated in 1957. She went on to Leeds University, earning a degree in Institution Management. Her mother remarried two times, and Maggie was adopted by both Ray Allen & Kevern Batten, whom she considered her father. Her mother passed away in Spain in 1988 & Kevern in Cornwall, England in 2000. In 1964, while living and teaching in Beirut, Lebanon, she met and married Frederick Floyd Spurlin, an American from the Washington DC area who was working for the US Government’s Defense Mapping Agency. They returned briefly to the United States, living in South Carolina, and then went to Africa for his job. They spent time in Nigeria and Sudan, and their daughter Jennifer was born in 1967 at Kagnew Air Station in Ethiopia. After her birth, they lived in Africa for almost 3 more years, returning to the DC area in 1970, in time for their son Kevern to be born in Washington DC. Shortly after that, they moved to Manassas, where Maggie resided ever since. They were married for almost 31 years before divorcing, but ultimately remained on good terms. Maggie was active in the Homeowner’s Association in Georgetown South in the mid-1970s, handling the HOA newsletter. She was on the Board of the Manassas Swim Club, supported the non-profit organization SERVE, fundraising for the March of Dimes, had membership in the social/cultural sorority Beta Sigma Phi, and coached in the local youth soccer leagues. She worked at Baldwin Elementary School, the Francis House of Leather, the Manassas Holiday Inn, and for a government contractor at the GSA. Maggie supported her children through their academic & athletic careers, going to many league, middle & high school soccer games and early morning swim meets. She loved to read, travel, people watch, drive her orange Honda Civic, collect stamps, play cards & backgammon, watch movies, and go to the Outer Banks – but she especially loved to talk to people and get to know them. Maggie was always interested and curious about any and all topics, and could make friends anywhere. There will be a Memorial Service for her family and friends at Pierce’s Funeral Home in Manassas at 4 pm on March 11, 2017. Please plan to remain at a reception afterwards. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the SERVE Shelter, 10056 Dean Drive, Manassas, VA 20144 (571)-748-2603, http://www.nvfs.org

Margaret Pilar Spurlin

January 24, 1942 - February 17, 2017