Royall Herman Spence Jr.

A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, December 27, at Grace United Methodist Church. The Rev. Morris Brown will officiate.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Luvene Holmes Spence, in December 2000, and also by his father, Royall H. Spence, Sr., his birth mother, Nellie Summerlin Spence, his second mother, Dolly Lewis Spence, his brother, Walter Hardy Spence, and his sisters, Mary Louise Boxley and Dolly Susan Dowdy.

Mr. Spence is survived by his three children, W. Hardy Spence and wife, Carolyn; Royall H. Spence III and wife, Louise; and Susan Spence Robinson and husband, John, all of Greensboro. He also is survived by six grandchildren: Connaree Spence; W. Hardy Spence and wife, Christian; Angela Roberson and husband, Charlie, R.H. Spence IV and wife, Jessica; Hannah Robinson and Alexa Robinson, and by many other relatives and a host of loving friends.

A native of Goldsboro, Spence graduated from Elon College in 1942, trained pilots as a member of the Army Air Corps in World War II, and operated a Dodge/Plymouth dealership in Burlington with his father until 1952, when Spence and his father purchased the Canada Dry franchise and moved to Greensboro.

He left a long trail of business and community contributions, including being named Canada Dry’s Bottler of the Year in 1976 and to the Beverage World Hall of Fame in 1994. His love of Elon continued unabated. He served 22 years on the Board of Trustees, and was chairman from 1989-1991. He was awarded the Elon Medallion, the school highest service award, in 2002. The “Luvene Holmes and Royall H. Spence Jr. Pavilion” was dedicated in 2007. He has been an active and dedicated member of Grace UMC since 1952, and was a member of the Burlington Jaycees and the Greensboro Kiwanis Club.

He will be missed for his warmth, wit and kindness and the love that he showered on his family and friends.

The family will greet friends at a reception to be held at the church immediately following the service. A private committal service will be held at Guilford Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 438 West Friendly Ave., Greensboro, NC 27401, or to Elon University, Elon, NC 27244.

On line condolences may be sent to www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.