Richard Allen "Dick" Spencer Sr.

Richard A. (Dick) Spencer, 80, went to be with Jesus on March 29, 2012 at Hospice Ministries. He was loved and cared for by his family and friends, who will miss his wonderful sense of humor and compassion. Dick was born in Kansas City, Missouri on December 8, 1931 to Roe Emerson Spencer and Helen Frances Burton Spencer. Dick served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Wasp during the Korean Conflict. After his military service, he graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Accounting. Upon graduation, he worked for Mobil Oil until his retirement in 1992. Dick served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher for many years at the First Baptist Church of New Orleans. While there, he also served as the director of Bread of Life, a mission designed to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people of New Orleans. During recent years, Dick has been a member of First Baptist Church of Madison, and the Friends in Faith Sunday School class. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan Cogburn Spencer; his daughter Cindy Martin and her husband Paul; his son Richard A. Spencer, Jr. and his wife Brenda; and his sister, Helen Wiseman of Topeka, Kansas. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren: Richard and Ainsley Spencer, Spencer and Kate Martin, as well as 8 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert Spencer of Kansas City, Missouri. Visitation will be held at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Ridgeland on April 1, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church of Madison, on April 2, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Prior to this service, visitation will be held at the church at 10:00 a.m. Memorials may be made to either the building program of the First Baptist Church of Madison, P.O. Box 400, Madison, MS 39130, or Hospice Ministries, 450 Towne Center, Blvd., Ridgeland, MS, 39157. The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice Ministries for the wonderful care that they provided during his final days.