He was born September 7, 1935, in Millstone, Kentucky, one of twelve children of the late Nora (Trent) and Joel M. Spencer. His family moved to Winchester, Ohio, when he was 11 years old. JB worked as an Inspector at Ohio Steel Tube in Shelby for many years before retiring and beginning his gospel career. He was the patriarch of The Spencer Family, debuting their first recording in 1972. JB, Barbara and their family sang and wrote many songs on their nearly 60 Southern Gospel albums and traveled the country spreading the gospel through the group’s music ministry.
On September 30, 1955, he married Barbara Lamb, and they had a blessed marriage sharing biblical values and raising their children according to God’s Word. For JB, spending time with his family was not only important but also enjoyable. He was a very kind person and was very likable. He was a member of Hillstone Freewill Baptist Church and rarely missed a service. In his free time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, farming and gardening but his greatest joy was traveling across America and Canada, the Virgin Islands and Jamaica singing the Gospel.
JB is survived by his wife of 70 years, Barbara Spencer; children, Geniece Ingold, Wade (Theresa) Spencer and Kevin (Tammy) Spencer; grandchildren, Holli (Matt), Heather, Jared (Tina), Joel (Megan), Thomas, Amanda (Chad), Matthew, Canaan (Macayla) and Makala; great-grandchildren, Brooklyn (Peyton), Grant, Titus, Londyn, Dayla, Nora, Tribe, Jagur, Toven, Nile, Arralee, Harper, Brady and Bentley; a sister, Carlene Carty Hamilton; and numerous other family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Ernie Ingold; great-granddaughter, Sonya; and ten siblings, Beulah, Creed, Marie, Maerine, Ernest, Edna, Lloyd, Clay, Lucille and Ann.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 am EST.– 1:00 pm EST. on Monday, November 24, 2025, at Walker Lake Baptist Church, 1602 Walker Lake Road, Mansfield, Ohio. The funeral service conducted by JB and Barbara's pastor, Matthew Pond will follow at 1:00 pm EST. and will be streamed on Facebook live on the JB Barbara Spencer page. He will be laid to rest in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Shiloh, Ohio.
Wappner Funeral Directors and Crematory-Ontario is honored to serve the family.
