Spencer R. Downs

April 28, 1932 ~ March 22, 2023

Spencer Ruggles Downs, known as “Spence,” was born on April 28, 1932, to Frank Wesley Downs and Lillian Nearing Downs in Bridgeport, Connecticut. After entering college, he married Valerie “Corky” Haviland, RN, with whom he had four children. Spence attended the University of Connecticut at Storrs from 1950 to 1954, earning a BA degree; while in college, he also worked at Manchester Hospital, where he was inspired to become a physician.

Spence attended the New York Medical College under the federal government’s Berry Plan, which allowed him to complete medical school (1958) and an Internal Medicine residency in return for service as an Air Force physician. In 1962, after Spence finished his residency at Meadowbrook Hospital in Long Island, New York, he entered active duty as a captain in the U.S. Air Force and began a journey through an Air Force career and eventually full-time Christian ministry, two professions that would lead Spence and Corky all over the world.

As an Air Force flight surgeon Spence’s assignments included Delaware (Dover AFB), France (Chateauroux), Germany (Ramstein), Colorado Springs (U.S. Air Force Academy), San Antonio (Wilford Hall Medical Center), North Dakota (Minot AFB), and Hawaii (Hickam AFB). His senior assignments included Hospital Commander duty at bases in New Mexico (Kirtland AFB) and Germany (Hahn). His final military assignments were in the Washington, D.C. area, where he served on the Air Force Surgeon General’s staff (Andrews AFB) and as Surgeon General of the Air National Guard (the Pentagon).

Following retirement from the Air Force in 1986, both Spence and Corky entered Dallas Theological Seminary, with Spence earning his MDiv and Corky a double Master’s Degree with Highest Honors in Biblical Studies and Christian Education. In 1992, they both found a new home and ministry at Christian Fellowship Church (CFC) in Evansville, Indiana. For more than a quarter century, Spence served as pastor of adult ministries and was a great comfort to many parishioners through his constant hospital visitations and personal counseling. For many years, Spence and Corky also provided pre-marital counseling for couples from the CFC community, and participated in a national ministry in Poland sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship International, known in Poland as Misja Ewangelizacyna Wsrod (MED). Spence continued to participate in CFC Bible studies and activities long after retiring from his official ministry duties.

Spencer Downs is preceded in death by his parents, by his beloved wife Corky, and by his youngest child, Wesley T. Downs. He is survived by: three children, Gerald (Linda), Deborah Eller (Jonathan), and Nelson (Bonnie); eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. to 7: 00 p.m. on Friday, March 31, 2023 at Alexander (East) Funeral Home, 2115 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, Indiana. Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at Christian Fellowship Church, 4100 Millersburg Rd., Evansville, IN 47725, followed by interment at Alexander Memorial Park. The funeral service will be livestreamed at https://cfcclassic.online.church/.

Condolences may be offered at www.AlexanderEastChapel.com.