Source: News Journal

Ralph M. Spencer (1920-2002)

Ralph M. Spencer, 82, 9 Maple Ct., North Manchester, IN, died Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 11:08pm at the Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

He was born February 8, 1920 in Barre, VT to Stephen and Jane (MacLeod) Spencer. He married Barbara Jean Sheller on December 7, 1952, she died April 22, 1989. He then married Virginia Huffman White in North Manchester, IN on June 28, 1992.

He owned Spencer Insurance Agency in North Manchester since 1954, retiring in 1982. He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, North Manchester. He was also a member and past president of the North Manchester Rotary Club, and was a Paul Harris Fellow; was a member and past Master of the Deming Masonic Lodge, North Manchester, a member of the Fort Wayne Scottish Rite, Mizpah Shrine, and the Flying Shriners; a member of the American Legion and Moose Lodge, both of North Manchester. He was a member of the Wabash County Mental Health Association, a longtime member of the North Manchester Library Board, and a former member of the Wabash County Community Foundation.

He received an Associate Degree from Bentley Business College in Boston, MA, and was one of the first recipients of the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters Degree.

He served in the Navy during WWII as a bomber pilot.

Surviving along with his wife are three daughters: Jane Craney Weaver, Martinsville, IN, Martha Foster, Golden, CO, and Gail Birdwell, Kingsville, TX; a step son: Robert Andrew White, Valparaiso, IN; a sister: Euthecia Gunn, Reading, MS; 2 granddaughters: Laura Foster and Kayla Foster, both of Golden, CO; 3 grandsons: Matthew Birdwell, San Francisco, CA, Clinton Rich, Newark, DE, and Colt Birdwell, Houston, TX; 4 great grandchildren: Christian Birdwell, Dylan Birdwell, Heaven Rich, and Garret Rich.

He was preceded in death by a grandson: Garret Rich; 2 sisters: Laura Frigon and Winona Noble; a half brother: Stephen Spencer, and a half sister: Josephine Needham.

Services will be Monday, May 27, 2002 at 11:00am at the Zion Lutheran Church in North Manchester. Pastor Jeffrey Hawkins will officiate and burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester. Friends may call Sunday from 2-6pm at the Grandstaff-Hentgen Bender Chapel, 207 W. Main St., North Manchester. There will also be a masonic service Sunday at 5:30pm at the funeral home.

Preferred Memorials are to the North Manchester Zion Lutheran Church, North Manchester Public Library, or the Wabash County Community Foundation.