Frantiska (Tish) Oden Spaulding was born to Ethel Sims Spaulding and John William Spaulding of Wichita, Kansas on April 14,1931. Ever since being elected the student body Vice President of Wichita Collegiate High School, her life exemplified leadership in public service. A talented figure skater, who studied piano at Julliard during high school summers and at Peabody School of Music in a joint program with Goucher College, she was especially devoted to the Arts. She met the love of her life, Joshua R. Oden, Jr., at Johns Hopkins University, and their marriage brought her to Birmingham, Alabama. 

Tish founded the Alabama Council of Camp Fire taking it from one small group in 1959 to 38,488 girls and boys in 1988. Known for her glamour, creativity, and elegant parties, in 1968 Tish was Chairman of The Birmingham Museum of Art Annual Fundraising Dinner Dance and Chairman of the Beaux Arts Krewe Ball and Patrons Dinner. From 1970 to 1971, she was The Birmingham Civic Ballet President. 

Having trained at The Washington School of Protocol, Tish formed the company Spaulding Protocol, Inc. and taught everything from a Discovery Channel feature on how to serve tea, to international business protocol for executives. As a protocol and etiquette consultant and civic leader, she was invited to travel to China as part of the 1984-1985 United States-China Accord For Cultural Exchange. When Birmingham was a satellite location for the 1996 Olympic Soccer Games, the Birmingham Visitors and Convention Bureau called on Spaulding Protocol to coach the city's service industries and residents on how to interact appropriately with the influx of varied international visitors and cultures. 

Continuing to devote herself to Camp Fire for over 30 years, Tish served as President of the National Board of Directors, becoming the Interim National Executive Director in 1990. From camping and honor beads, she helped lead the national organization into working with neglected, abused, and at-risk children, and creating camps for children with special needs like cancer or cystic fibrosis. In 1985 she received both the Goucher College Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Public Service and Camp Fire's highest honor, The WoHeLo Award. Living vibrantly until March 20, 2024, her 92 years embodied the meaning of the Camp Fire watchword, WoHeLo, which stands for Work, Health, and Love. 

She is survived by those she dearly loved, daughters Tish Oden Campos (Frank), Amanda Claiborne Oden, and two grandchildren, Colin Campos and Madeleine Morrisette Corliss.

Tish is also survived by her father's brothers granddaughter Rosalie Johnson Swinney of Monument, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Camp Fire Alabama 106 Oxmore Rd.

Birmingham, Alabama 35209 or online: https://www.mightycause.com/donate/Campfireusa-Al

Published by AL.com (Birmingham) from Mar. 29 to Mar. 31, 2024.