She was appointed to vice-chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission by President Richard Nixon in 1971.

[2] She later attended the University of Cincinnati and Edgecliff College before marrying John Spain on July 14, 1951.

[1] After inheriting the engineering company Alvey-Ferguson in 1951, Spain made a point to hire one disabled worker in every 10 individuals she chose.

[7] However, Spain resigned early in 1975 as she felt she had "gone as far as she could to open doors to women and the handicapped" inside government.

[8] After concluding her governmental career, Spain was appointed the executive professor in residence at George Washington University and served as president of the Convalescent Hospital for Children in Cincinnati, Ohio and the Greater Cincinnati Hospital Council.