Dr. George Spong, 89, of Dover, died Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.

Born March 20, 1920, Dr. Spong grew up in Lancaster, Pa., and was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Dr. Spong put himself through Franklin and Marshall College by working on the Pennsylvania railroad. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College where he was a member of the Alpha Kappa Kappa fraternity. As a board certified family practitioner, he was a charter member of the American Academy of Family Practice.

He moved to Dover where he practiced traditional family medicine, including delivering hundreds of babies, in a practice that spanned more than 40 years. After retiring from private practice, he continued to see patients at the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill.

Dr. Spong was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Natalie Ream Spong, who died Feb. 3, 1994.

He is survived by his four children, Timothy Spong of Dover, Matthew Spong of Viola, and Chris Spong and Natalie G.Spong, both of Annapolis, Md.

In addition, Dr. Spong is survived by three grandsons, Kyle and Nicholas Barkins and Eric Spong; and his loving companion, Margaret “Maggie” Welch of Dover.

Services and interment were held privately.

The family requests that flowers not be sent; instead memorial donations in Dr. Spong’s name maybe sent to Doctors Without Borders, the Kent County SPCA, to Bayhealth Medical Center/Kent General Hospital, or to the Compassionate Care Hospice.

Arrangements were by Torbert Funeral Chapels, Dover

Letters of condolence may be sent and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com.