Verda Ruth Spann Shine

Verda Ruth Spann Shine passed from this life on February 14, 2025 in Duncanville, Texas. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Tom Shine; their three children Lindsey Shine Lawrence and her husband Matthew; Jonathan Shine; and Nicholas Shine and his wife, Amy; grandchildren Kira Shine; Bailey Shine; and Henry Lawrence; her two brothers Jim Spann and Lynn Preslar; and her niece Jessica Spann Koparan and husband Dinҫer.

Verda was born on April 3, 1950 to parents James and Christine Spann. At only four years old, Verda’s family was suddenly changed forever by tragedy when her father, an Abilene police officer, was shot and killed while in pursuit of a suspect. Verda’s mom, left a single mother with two small children in the early 1950s, went back to school and moved her family into a home built for them by the Abilene Police Department. The strength of her family in overcoming these challenges was a primary influence in Verda’s life.

An exceptional student, Verda played the clarinet in the San Angelo band. She would go on to become one of the most outstanding musicians at Central High School, earning All-State honors in 1967 and 1968 and twice earning Outstanding Soloist at the UIL State Contest at the same time. Verda was awarded a scholarship to study music at the University of Texas in Austin. At the first rehearsal of the UT Wind Ensemble in 1968, she met her soulmate and eventual husband, Tom. He was already a junior at UT and the two of them sat side-by-side in the Wind Ensemble, finding the love that would sustain them for over half a century.

Verda and Tom began attending services at the Unitarian Fellowship in Austin where several of the UT music faculty attended. They married there on May 20, 1972, so excited to begin their life together that Verda skipped her college graduation ceremony to have the wedding instead. They remained Unitarians throughout their marriage, spending the last 45 years at the First Unitarian Church of Dallas.

Although already trained as a band director, Verda was called upon to take other teaching roles that were available as she followed Tom through his early career as a band director in Angleton, Austin, Lampasas, and finally Duncanville. She taught Science and English at the junior high level and in 2nd and 4th grades before becoming an assistant band director at Duncanville’s Byrd Middle School in 1982. She would go on to become the organizer and lead teacher of the beginner program that supported one of the largest and most successful band programs in the country. Verda conducted in three Texas Honor Band concerts (the state championship for concert band) in 1983, 2005, and 2009. Adored by her students and colleagues, she earned the affectionate nickname “Mama Kitty” and a musical piece was written in her honor entitled “La Madre de Los Gatos.”

Verda thoroughly enjoyed her thirty-seven years of teaching band and following her students as they advanced to the high school bands. After their retirement in 2010, Tom and Verda were both recognized by the Duncanville ISD with the naming of the district performance hall in their honor. Verda’s work in Duncanville was also recognized by the Texas Bandmasters Association

and Phi Beta Mu band directors’ fraternity with election to the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 2017. She and her husband are one of only a few band director couples to both earn membership in the Hall of Fame.

When Verda and Tom moved to Duncanville in 1980, they had just received final approval to adopt a child and start a family. However, just days after moving, Verda learned that she would give birth to Lindsey in April, followed by Jon in 1984 and Nick in 1985. Verda never stopped working during those years, always finding time for her family while often sacrificing time for herself. She considered her children to be the greatest achievement of her life.

After retiring from teaching in 2010, Verda enjoyed many hobbies, including playing clarinet, genealogy, scrapbooking, and other craft projects preserving family memories and keepsakes. She became an active member of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas Women's Day Alliance and served as Service Chair before her illness made such things difficult. She cherished the many friendships she developed and the projects that supported its work. In keeping with her love for genealogy research, Verda and her daughter joined the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The family wish to thank the nearly 600 people who sent messages of condolence following her death, as well as the dozens of doctors, nurses, the Visiting Angels, Amy Miller, and other medical personnel whose efforts gave her relief from suffering and who showed many kindnesses over the decade of her illness. Verda's body was cremated and her ashes will be spread by her family at places important to her during her life.