Charles LaFollette Spencer

SPENCER, Charles LaFollette, 91, of Richmond, Virginia, died January 31, 2009. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, son of the late Warren Russell Spencer and Hallie LaFollette Spencer. After graduating from the University of Arkansas in 1940 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, he taught physics, chemistry, and math in the high school at Rodgers, Arkansas. He was inducted into the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in February 1941, and served in the 701st Tank Destroyer Battalion, seeing combat in North Africa and landing on Anzio, fighting his way up the Italian peninsula to the northern Apennine Mountains. Serving as the Battalion Communications Officer, he received a Bronze Star for heroic service in Italy. He attained the rank of Captain before leaving military service in December of 1945. After his military service, he married Mildred L. Waldrop in Washington, D.C., at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, the service presided over by the Reverend Peter Marshall. Living in Northern Virginia, he worked at the Naval Research Laboratory for 15 years as an electrical research scientist, producing seven registered patents and receiving the Distinguished Civilian Service Award as a member of the team producing the Navy's first on-line cryptographic communication system. He was also inducted into the Naval Research Laboratory's Hall of Fame. Entering private industry in 1960, he worked for DECO Electronics in Leesburg, Virginia, until 1969. His work in industry included the first satellite communication system between Hawaii and Washington, D.C.; the SATCOM program; the Through-the-earth communication system; and several classified communication projects for the nation's military. He returned to government service in 1969 at the Defense Communications Agency. As a Branch Chief, he successfully supervised the integration of several military communication systems into a compatible single system. After retiring, he and his wife moved to Newport, Virginia, and spent their winters at Traveler's Rest, an Airstream Park in Dade City, Florida. They participated in Airstream activities in Virginia and in several cross country caravans, including Canada. His favorite saying upon leaving, was the Airstream parting words, "See you down the road," which was probably his final comment to his friends and family. He was preceded in death by his dear wife of 54 years, Mildred, who died in 1999. He was also preceded in death by his younger sister, Margaret Trimble of Little Rock, Arkansas. He is survived by two daughters, Susan Edwards of Asheville, N.C., and Sarah Evans of Midlothian, Va.; a beloved son-in-law, Andrew J. Evans, also of Midlothian; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A graveside service was held at Westhampton Memorial Park in Richmond, Va., the Rev. Bryan McChesney officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Central Virginia Chapter, Autism Society of America, P.O. Box 29364, Richmond, Va. 23242.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.