Saul Conrad Speyrer, 83, retired US Air Force Major, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 23, surrounded by his family at his home in Greenville, TX. Born on January 4, 1939 to Saul J. and Lucille Speyrer, he grew up in Leonville, Louisiana and met his future bride, Arlene Collins, in Opelousas, Louisiana where they were married on December 30, 1961 shortly after he graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. His first assignment was in Laredo, TX for pilot training with the US Air Force. Several transfers and 3 children later, he received orders to serve in the Vietnam War for a year. After the birth of his 4th child, he was transferred to Okinawa, Japan for 4 years and returned to the states in Greenville, TX where he retired from the Air Force in 1981. During his Air Force career, he was awarded 20 Air Medals, and twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Meritorious Service Metal. After flying for E-Systems/Raytheon for 20 years, he retired a second time where he spent his spare time in his yard and garden. He was given the City of Greenville’s Yard of Distinction honor several times and his prolific garden proved he was paying attention in college where he majored in Agriculture. A 47-year member of St. William Catholic Church in Greenville, he was in the Knights of Columbus. In his later years he relished the company of his loving family. Mr. Speyrer was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sarah Champagne of Leonville, Louisiana. He is survived by his wife, Arlene; brother, James H. Speyrer of Dayton, Ohio; his daughter and son-in-law, Libby and Lyndon Stromberg of Greenville; his daughter, Cindy Speyrer of Rockwall; his son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Laurie Speyrer of Greenville; his son, Mark Speyrer of Rockwall; his 7 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 28 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Coker Mathews Funeral Home with a rosary starting at 7:30 pm. Internment will take place in Opelousas, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation: 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306 or https://t2t.org.
