Robert Toby Spencer

Robert T. Spencer. age 96, passed away on March 29, 2017 at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Robert (Bob) was born in 1920 on a train that was passing through Opelika, AL on the way to his Mother's home in Atlanta, Georgia. Bob lived in Atlanta during his early years, but moved to Chicago, where he completed his high school education at DuSable High School on the city's South Side. But an event was going to change Bob's future, a change that would have a greater impact than his graduation from a technical school or an offer to play football at a major university World War II. Bob entered the armed forces as one of the first in a group of black Americans to become United States Marines. History remembers these black marines as Montford Point Marines (in 1993 Congress recognized their achievements and awarded the Congressional Gold Medal); however, Bob proclaimed, until the day of his death, that he was to be referred to only as a Marine. (Although as a DI Drill Instructor there were probably more colorful names given to Bob). After the war, Bob's life took on a new direction -police work, an occupation he loved. But he also equally enjoyed being involved in a great variety of activities his favorites being motorcycling and golf, and he was active in many others including flying, hunting, and building model airplanes. His first son, Robert T. Spencer Jr. is deceased; Bob Sr. is survived locally by his son, Kirk and daughter-in- law, Patricia; and grandson Kirk Jr. Bob was also very fortunate to have great friends, particularly Ron Suva and family. Funeral services with Military Honors will be held in the chapel of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, 3000 Monroe Avenue, at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, with an hour of visitation beginning at 12 noon. Memorial donations can be made to the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans where the staff of Unit 1-Red have performed admirably in making Bob's last days comfortable and pleasant.