Obituary of John Franklin Spencer

John Franklin Spencer, age 83, died on April 20, 2016 at his home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He was known by family and friends for his blue eyes, big smile, sense of humor and unfailing optimism. Mr. Spencer was born on May 2, 1932 in Ithaca, New York to the late Dr. Leland Spencer and Ruth Reed Spencer and was married to Shirley, his wife of 61 years. He graduated from Ithaca High School (class of 1950) and earned a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from Cornell University (class of 1954). John married the former Shirley Jean House (also Cornell class of '54) on April 16, 1955 in Avon, New York. He entered the Air Force in July of 1955 and the couple was stationed in San Antonio, Texas and Columbus Ohio. The couple returned to Ithaca in 1958 where Mr. Spencer served in the Air Force Reserve and earned his masters degree in plant science from Cornell (1962). John worked for Cornell University until his retirement in 1997 and served as president of the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (1979-1980). The couple relocated to Chapel Hill in 1999 and immediately embraced the community, especially their neighborhood of Southern Village. Mr. Spencer is survived by his wife Shirley; brother Gordon Reed Spencer and wife Eve of San Diego, California; daughter Linda Fowler and husband Butch of Chapel Hill; son John Warren Spencer and wife Kathy of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. In addition, he is survived by four grandchildren, Virginia Fox and husband Bart of Chapel Hill; RJ Crumpler of Hillsborough, NC; Caroline Spencer and Jane Spencer of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. The family would like to thank Dr. Young Whang for his 18 years of compassionate care and friendship and his colleagues and staff at UNC Cancer Center and Urology Clinics. In addition, special thanks to Dr. Lindsay Wilson of UNC Geriatrics, Transitions Life Care, and Comfort Keepers of Chapel Hill for their loving support. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 1 at Christ United Methodist Church, 800 Market Street, Chapel Hill at 2pm. Donations can be made to: Cornell Plantations Endowment Fund ℅ Lori Hammond-Colwell 1 Plantations Road Ithaca, NY 14850 Young Whang Cancer Research Fund (#378872) Medical Foundation of North Carolina 880 MLK Jr Blvd Chapel Hill, NC 27514-2600 Christ United Methodist Church Operating Budget 800 Market Street Chapel Hill, NC 27516