Carol was born in Danville, IL to Charles and Garnet Whelan on August 17, 1939. She attended high school at Danville High School and college and graduate school at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. She married Mike Spencer on April 16, 1960, in Danville.
Carol dedicated her career to public education, serving as a teacher, principal, and associate superintendent of schools throughout the states of Illinois and Indiana, before retiring in 2000. In every role, she was committed to nurturing children and young people, helping them learn, grow, and see the world with curiosity and confidence. Carol created meaningful opportunities for students to broaden their perspectives beyond the classroom. During the 1970s, she and her husband, Mike, led groups of students to Mexico, where they stayed with local families and learned about language and culture firsthand. This experience reflected one of many initiatives Carol championed throughout her life in service to young people.
After retiring, Carol and Mike moved to Tampa, where she continued sharing her love of learning by teaching piano lessons to children in the community for more than ten years.
Carol is preceded in death by her husband, C. Michael Spencer (1937-2010) and her son Scot M. Spencer (1961-2010).
Carol is survived by her daughter Holly Kaczmarczyk (Bogdan Kaczmarczyk), her sister Linda O’Connor (Kerry O’Connor), her four grandchildren, Chad Spencer (Riley Harrison), Shealyn Spencer Gardner (Adam Gardner), Michael Kaczmarczyk and Aaron Spencer, and her great grandchild Charlotte Spencer.
A Simple Gathering will be held at Blount & Curry FH-Carrollwood, 3207 W Bearss Ave, Tampa, FL 33618, US, on September 5, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by a Memorial Service from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, and a Reception from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the same location.
