Susan Spear Root Feibleman, 86, a prominent resident of Ormond Beach, and Sarasota, Fla., and Los Angeles, Calif., died March 15, 2014, at her home in Sarasota.
Mrs. Feibleman was born July 30, 1927, in Terre Haute, Ind., the second daughter of Helen and Max Fulton Spear.
A native of Terre Haute, she graduated from Wiley High School and attended Indiana State Teachers College. She was a member of the Chi-Omega National Sorority, a member of Tri Kappa Sorority and Junior Service League of Terre Haute.
She married Chapman S. Root, heir to a Coca-Cola fortune and grandson of the late Chapman J. Root, who along with his associates developed the contour-shaped bottle for Coca-Cola. They moved from Terre Haute, Indiana and became residents of Daytona Beach, Fla., in 1950. They had six children, all raised in the Daytona Beach area.
She was very active in civic work and served as a board member of Volusia County Crippled Children and Adults Society Inc.; appointed by the City Commissioners of Daytona Beach to the Volusia County Historical Commission; acted on the Board of Trustees of Saint James’ Episcopal Day School; a member of the Ormond Beach Historical Society Inc.; Volusia County Visiting Nurses Association Inc.; Saint James Episcopal Church Altar Guild Society; Halifax District Hospital Medical Auxiliary; a trustee of Fay School, Southboro, Mass.; member of the Principal’s Advisory Committee Ormond Beach Junior High School and Seabreeze High School; member of The Museum of Arts and Sciences; served on the Bishops Committee of Central Florida for the 1980 Venture in Mission; a volunteer of the Independent Child Abuse Rehabilitation Enterprise; a trustee of the Domestic Abuse Council Inc.; trustee of The Future Inc. (Public Education Endeavors) and a member of the Board of Visitors for the College of Arts and Science at Stetson University, Deland, Fla.
She was awarded a Doctor of Laws degree from Indiana State University in 1988 and in 1989 Indiana State University dedicated Root Hall (a large classroom and office building) in honor of Susan and Chapman Root.
The Chapman S. Root family is widely recognized for their philanthropic activities in many local projects and has contributed to educational institutions, medical research and the arts in Florida and other locations.
Mr. Root died in 1990 at age 65. After many lonely years, in 1998 she met and married Peter S. Feibleman, a writer and playwright. They traveled extensively and have homes in Sarasota, Fla.; Sun Valley, Idaho; New York City and Barcelona, Spain.
Mrs. Feibleman is survived by one daughter, five sons, 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren: Daughter, Susan Root Graham (Michael), Maui, Hawaii; sons, Chapman J., Hailey, Idaho; William S. (Suzanne), Buhl, Idaho; R. Christopher (Tracy), Hailey, Idaho; John S. (Judi), Ormond Beach, Fla.; and J. Preston (Lynn), Flagler, Fla.; sister, Rosemary Spear Voges, Ormond Beach, Fla.; many loving nieces, nephews, friends, and appreciative and dedicated employees. She was predeceased by a brother, Robert M. Spear, his wife Nancy, and loving brother-in-law, Robert L. Voges.
A gathering of family and friends was held on Thursday, March 20, between the hours of 5-8 p.m. at Lohman Funeral Home Ormond, 733 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach. A private burial will be at Volusia Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the RL Voges Memorial Fund, care of the Volusia Flagler Family YMCA, 761 East International Speedway Blvd. DeLand, FL 32724, or The Arc Volusia, P.O. Box 9658, Daytona Beach, FL 32120.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are under the careful direction of Lohman Funeral Home Ormond.
