Lucile Spencer

Lucile Spencer died April 7th, 2008 in Scottsdale after a short illness. Lucile was born in Wahoo, Nebraska to Deana and Bert Hendricks on October 22, 1911 on her mother's 40th birthday. Her older sisters Lorene and Madelene were very exited to have a baby sister in the house. Lucile started her tradition of outstanding performance by winning the "Better Baby Contest" at the Saunders County Fair in 1912. She skipped two grades and graduated from Wahoo High School at 16 and attended Luther College as her parents felt she was too young to go off to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. At age 17 she did enroll at the University of Nebraska, pledged Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, was asked to join Mortar Board and Phi Beta Kappa and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She met Ralph "Spence" Spencer there and they kept in touch when Spence left for Chicago to work for Montgomery Wards. Spence invited her to attend the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1933 and surprised her with a marriage proposal on the roof of the Stevens Hotel, Lucile told him she would have to "check with her sisters". They approved and Spence and Lucile would be married on June 19, 1935 in Wahoo. Their marriage lasted 68 years, ending with Spence's death in 2003. Lucile and Spence raised three children in Saint Louis, Mo and moved to Scottsdale in 1960. Lucile pursued her hobbies of knitting and church work and held offices in both PEO and Alpha Omicron Pi. She and Spence traveled all over the world, their favorite place being Africa. They moved to Westminster Village on its opening day and enjoyed the many friends and activities there for many years. Lucile was an avid knitter at 96 and was working on knitting squares for blankets right up to her admission to Mayo Hospital last Sunday. Lucile kept in contact with her many friends and had many visitors including her dear friends from Chapter AP of PEO and Valley Presbyterian. Her family joined her often for celebrations and holidays, thanks to the facilities provided by the staff at Westminster Village. She invested much time and energy in her family which spanned four generations. Visits from 6 lively great grandchildren were always welcome. Lucile was predeceased by her son Richard Spencer and by her husband Ralph Spencer. She is survived by her daughters Elizabeth (Bill) Walters and Buffy Owens; grandchildren R.B. Spencer, Lynn (Dave) Scott, Spencer (Tiffany) Walters, Julie (Michael) Lyon, Nick Owens and fiancée Amber Maniatas, Josh Owens and wife Kerri Thorpe, Jeni Owens and fiancée Brett Murdock, and great grandchildren Brinley, Jackson, Mikenna and Cedrick Walters and Wes and Lucy Lyon. Lucile was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She was full of grace, dignity and love and kept family traditions alive for 96 years. She will be missed by her friends and family but will live on because of her love and example. Services will be held in the Sanctuary of Valley Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale at 3:30 pm on Friday, April 11. 2008.