USAF (Ret) Colonel Gordon Abbott Spencer

Gordon Abbott Spencer was born May 29, 1918, to Henry James Spencer, M.D. and Margaret Beekman Abbott Spencer in New York, New York. He was educated at home and in various private schools, graduating from Trinity School in 1936. He matriculated at Harvard University but failed to graduate with his class in 1940. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in September 1940. Not passing the pilot's test, he was sent to the Communication Officers' Course. His first duty station was Wichita Falls, TX. He arrived the day they turned the first spade of earth for Sheppard Field, where he had many assignments. He was married to Edith Baxter from 1941-1945, and had David James Spencer of Fredericksburg, TX.

With World War II in full swing, he went to Navigation School in Hondo, TX, then Radar School and finally flew in Europe in 1943. He had 28 missions with the 306th Bomb Group – "First over Germany" – flying in B-17s and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for bombing through clouds. At the end of the war he was honorably released, then re-enlisted as a M.Sgt. Recalled as a Captain in 1946, he was based at Travis Field, CA until 1949 when he was transferred to Sandia Base, Albuquerque, NM where he learned about atomic bombs and taught nuclear physics. Next he went to the Air University where he taught Biological Warfare, as he had now graduated from Harvard with a degree in Chemistry. Assigned as a navigator in Korea, his commander vetoed the transfer because of his advanced weapons training and he went to Thule, Greenland as navigator in a rescue squadron. In 1954, he was sent to Lowry AFB, CO to administer a school for all A-bomb and newer H-bomb specialties. In 1957, he was sent to Air Training Command where he began setting up courses for Ballistic Missiles, which he administered 9 months later and for 3 years thereafter at Randolph AFB, TX. Next, he was assigned to the SHAPE HQ in Paris, France, where he was promoted to Colonel, which necessitated a transfer to Southern HQ in Naples, Italy. After two years he was sent to Los Angeles, CA in the Logistics Command and ended his career at Logistics HQ in Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

He was married to Patricia Ruth Sholders Spencer in 1949 and had a son, Robert McCoy Spencer (Bob) of Seattle, WA; daughter, Margaret Abbott Spencer Schultz (Peggy) of San Antonio, TX; and daughter Elizabeth Anne Spencer Bruinsma (Betsy) of San Antonio, TX.

After retirement he moved to McMinnville, OR, where he taught mathematics and got his M.A in mathematics at the University of Oregon. Four years later, he moved to San Antonio, TX where he resided for the rest of his life. He studied art at Incarnate Word College, built a house on the Medina River which was flooded and rebuilt, survived prostate cancer and suspected stomach cancer, and had a heart attack with 6 bypasses. He sang in choirs from the time he was 7 years old, including the Harvard Glee Club and San Antonio Chordsmen. He was a long-standing and active member at Christ Episcopal Church here in San Antonio and sang in the church choir for more than 30 years.

He was a beloved family man with a wonderful sense of humor and fine story-telling abilities. He was also an accomplished woodworker and artist with a beautiful bass voice. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, four children, six grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and 14 step-great-grandchildren. Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Porter Loring Mortuary, 1101 McCullough Ave.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

THURSDAY

JANUARY 7, 2016

1:00 PM

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

510 BELKNAP PL.

Interment will be private for the family only.