Leon DeVere Spencer
July 18, 1921 - April 1, 2013
Obituary
Leon was a ninth generation descendent of Gerard Spencer, an immigrant from London to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1631. He was born to Forrest Leo and Ethyl Frances (Ricker) Spencer; Forrest was a “Sooner” whose family made the rush into the Oklahoma Territory in 1889; he ultimately settled in the panhandle where he raised his family during the Dust Bowl years. Leon often helped out at his father’s general store, and was able to “appropriate” Indian head pennies from their produce stand; that ultimately led to his life-long interest in coin-collecting.
During the summer of 1938 he worked on a ranch south of Guymon; he used his wages of $75 to buy a Conn trombone, which he then played in the high school band. He also sang in the choir at the Methodist church, under the influence of his mother.
Following graduation from Guymon High School in 1939 (he was president of the senior class) and two years at Panhandle A & M College in Goodwell, he moved to Wenachee to pick fruit and escape the Dust Bowl. He and some buddies passed a riveting course offered in Wenachee by Boeing, then went to work in Seattle as rivet buckers in November of 1941, for .60 per hour. He shared a 7-bed dormitory with fellow workers, one of whom was Fred Cash – who had a delightful girlfriend named Olga. With not enough girlfriends to go around, they all took turns dancing with Olga on Friday nights, and the way Leon dipped her was not unnoticed by the other fellows!
He was drafted but enlisted in the newly formed Navy Construction Battalions (SeaBees) and served with the 95th Battalion on Apamama in the Gilbert Islands; Red Hill, Oahu, HI; and Iwo Jima.
Upon discharge, he married Ruby Lundgren Mack in 1946 and entered the University of Washington, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1949. Thirty-five years of his professional life were spent with R.W. Beck and Associates, a nationwide consulting firm specializing in public utilities. He specialized in valuation and ultimately became one of only 34 Accredited Senior Appraisers in the Utility Discipline of the American Society of Appraisers.
He and Ruby were charter members of Faith Lutheran Church in Seattle, and were often remembered for the exquisite Christmas trees they selected and decorated annually on either side of the altar for over 25 years
He enjoyed gardening, sharing plants and seeds, and working on driftwood sculpture. He also enjoyed his video camera immensely, and recorded many weddings for which Ruby had arranged flowers. He created and gave away many photo albums to preserve the record of trips and events. In later years he developed an interest in genealogy and did a great deal of research for himself and for others
He was predeceased by his brother, Glade Marion Spencer in 1968, and his first wife, Ruby, in 1996. About 2 years after Ruby passed away, he located Olga Cash, also widowed; he proposed on their second date, and married her on February 14, 1998.
He is survived by his current wife of 15 years, Olga Cash Spencer; his daughter Cheryl Spencer and husband Jim Shaver of Lynnwood; and daughter Susan Spencer Cook and husband Wes Cook of Newberg, Oregon. His grandchildren are Eric Spencer Appesland, Lindsay Marie Appesland, and Johanna Grace Crisman.
Susan and family we send our thoughts to you all. Hard to loose a loved one, but you all know he is in a better place just waiting now for you all to be together someday. God Bless!
Lindsay, we are so sorry for your loss. You have so many incredible memories to cherish and hold on to as you and your family move forward. May he rest in peace. Find comfort in his presence, for he will always be with you!
So sorry to learn of Leon’s passing. I enjoyed knowing him, he was a wonderful guy. My sympathy to all of you–Susan, Cheryl, Johanna, Lindsey and Eric.
We are very saddened to learn of Leon’s passing. Leon was truly a kind and loving man and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. May God bless him and his family.
The world will miss Uncle Leon – those twinkling eyes and easy smile. it is so wonderful to know exactly where he is and that he no longer is suffering. Cheryl you are to be commended for the hours and hours you spent being with him, watching him and keeping us informed. Thank you for that. Sue the poem you wrote about your Dad was so very touching and vivid – thank you. May that peace that passes all understanding be yours this day and forever.. Love you, both ever so much – Toni