Wayne G. Splain
He earned the nickname “The Professor” from his colleagues for his avid reading of books, blueprints, and anything technical.
A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Clyde W. Kraft Funeral Home, 519 Walnut St, Columbia, PA 17512.
The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. until service time.
Attendees are asked to wear lavender (Wayne’s favorite color) or any shade of purple in remembrance of him.
He will be laid to rest, with military honors, at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery on a later date.
Wayne G. Splain, 83, of Columbia passed away on October 26, 2025 surrounded by his family. He was born in Columbia to the late John Elwood and Mary Klotz Splain and was a lifelong resident of this area.
Wayne was a graduate of Columbia High School with the Class of 1960 where he was active in wrestling and cross country. He proudly served in the United States Air Force for four years, as a jet aircraft mechanic at Pease Air Force Base and as a Colonel’s administrative clerk at McGuire.
Upon leaving the service, Wayne worked as an automotive mechanic and then as a shearer and straightener at Grinnell before improving RCA’s salvage operations as a final tube inspector. Wayne started at PP&L in 1971 at the Holtwood facility. He quickly rose through the ranks to become an electrical mechanic, a job at which he excelled at the Brunner Island SES for 22 years. He earned the nickname “The Professor” from his colleagues for his avid reading of books, blueprints, and anything technical. Wayne transitioned his career in 1993 when he began pursuing his passion for computers as an information systems analyst. He retired in 2002. A lifetime learner, Wayne attended Penn State York Campus.
As a boy and young man, he loved spending time on the Susquehanna River with family and friends and was an active member of the Salem United Church of Christ in Columbia serving as youth fellowship leader, Trustee, and Elder. Wayne was extremely proud of his service as a Cold War veteran and member of the 509th Bomb Wing. He was an avid Chicago Bears, Dale Earnhardt, and Formula 1 Racing fan. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle who adored his family and treasured spending time with them.
Wayne leaves behind his wife of sixty-two years Charlotte M. Splain née Frey; two sons, Stephen Michael, husband of Tracy Price Splain, John Matthew Splain, partner of Margaret Casey; four grandchildren, Katherine, wife of Cody McConaghy, Shawn Splain, Isaac Mayer-Splain, Ian Mayer-Splain; a brother Lee Splain; numerous nieces and nephews and a large extended family including his cherished foreign exchange student, Javier Tamez Villarreal and his family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Marilyn Splain Frey.
Charlotte and family sincerely thank Paige Herchelroath, Maddie Gonzalez, Ariana and John from Comfort Keepers, and Hospice & Community Care for their outstanding gentle care in Wayne’s final days.
A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Clyde W. Kraft Funeral Home, 519 Walnut St, Columbia, PA 17512. The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. until service time. Attendees are asked to wear lavender (Wayne’s favorite color) or any shade of purple in remembrance of him. He will be laid to rest, with military honors, at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery on a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Smile Train, P.O. Box 96231, Washington, DC 20090, DAV – Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
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