Carol Eileen Sponable

Carol Eileen Sponable, 82, Denver, Colorado, died Wednesday, January 16, 2013, at her retirement home.

She was born May 18, 1930, at Chandler, Oklahoma, the daughter of Bernard Michael Evanhoe and Clara Mae Burris Evanhoe. Profoundly deaf from her babyhood days, Carol attended Oklahoma School for the Deaf and Kansas School for the Deaf, and always received top honors. She dropped out of Gallaudet College for the Deaf and on June 3, 1950, she married Harry Sponable in Denver, and raised their three hearing children there.

After their divorce, she returned to college and acquired a bachelor's degree in library science in 1968.

Mrs. Sponable retired as medical librarian from the Colorado Medical School Library. She started as a library clerk and ended up as a library technician during a period of 21 years of service with a sincere desire to increase the accessibility of the library materials to her patrons. She retired in 1990.

For many years, she served as president of the Mile High Chapter of the Gallaudet University Alumni Association. In later years, she volunteered with the Metro Denver Deaf Senior Citizens on various worthwhile projects.

Volunteerism was her strong suit. She taught sign language classes, edited the now-defunct MILE HIGH BANNER, for which she won the National Association of the Deaf's Literary Award and the Best Publication Award. When not holding office, Mrs. Sponable was a very active member of various deaf organizations. She was one of the founders of the Colorado Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (CRID) and was among those who started the Deaf Program Services at Fort Logan Mental Health Center.

Mrs. Sponable service to the deaf began at age 12 when she became an organization secretary. This was followed by her being a secretary for more than 10 organizations for the deaf. Over the years, she gave thousands of hours for deaf causes, and was always devoted to helping them overcome discrimination in the work place and for receiving fairness in the legal matters through the Colorado Legislature.

Mrs. Sponable worked to assure deaf children had quality education and that the deaf received quality sign language interpreting services. She received the Golden Hand Award from the Colorado Association of the Deaf (CAD) for being editor of the Deaf Coloradan, for her devotion and protection of the deaf, and a for being a board member of the Center on Deafness.

Survivors include a son, Alan Sponable of Simi Valley, California, and Eileen Milligan of Cupertino, California; a sister, Patricia Stephenson, Bowler, Wisconsin; a brother, Charles Alfred Evanhoe of Derby, Kansas; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry Sponable; a son, Dean Sponable; a grandson, Don Andrae Sponable; and a brother, Edward Evanhoe.

At her request, there will be no funeral service in Denver, but a graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 26, 2013, at Mt. Hope Cemetery, 17th & Fairlawn, Topeka, Kansas. Memorial contributions can be made to American Diabetes Association. Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, Topeka, is assisting the family with arrangements.