Bobby Eugene Spencer

Obituary of Bobby Eugene Spencer
Bobby Eugene Spencer, Sr. passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital in Fort Walton Beach, Florida from complications after a series of small strokes. Mr. Spencer was born in Caruthersville, Pemiscot, Missouri on January 20, 1935 to the late George Harry (Pooch) Spencer and Ruby Esther Harwell Watson. Bob and his late brother, James Harry, were separated after their mom died from tuberculosis, and their father remarried.
Bob became a ward of the State of Michigan in St. Joseph, Berrien County. Because Jim was older, he was sent to Technical High School in Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas before entering the military. Bob Spencer was raised as a farm helper in Hagar, Berrien, Michigan and taken in by Loren Dennis Saucier and his wife, Irene Minnie Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Saucier were from Mississippi and had no children of their own. It was a perfect family for the three of them.
After graduating high school, Bob enlisted in the Air Force. It was during his training in northern California that he met and fell in love with Helen Ailene Drumm. The two were married on February 12, 1956 in Virginia City, Storey, Nevada. They enjoyed 66 years of marriage before Helen passed in 2022 and they were blessed with two children: the late Bobby Eugene Spencer, Jr. and Barbie Lynn Spencer Palkowski. In addition to his daughter, Bob is survived by this four grandchildren David Eugene Palkowski and Melissa Erin Palkowski Ball, both of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Kyle Allen Spencer of Jacksonville, Florida, and Kayla Mariah Spencer of Pensacola, Florida.
During his military career, the Spencer family lived in Nevada, South Carolina, Spain, and Colorado before settling in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Bob served two tours in Vietnam before he retired from the military. Mr. Spencer's second career was in real estate as a property manager. Bob had a love of animals, domestic and exotic. Their first family dogs were Pekingese, each one named Missy. Years later, their breed of choice was Toy Poodles. Mr. Spencer was also known to adopt stray cats that would live many, many years. Bob's first exotic pet was a Boa that he snuck back from Southeast Asia after his last tour in Vietnam. His wife was not thrilled with Henry, so Bob donated the snake to the St. Louis Zoo. Mr. Spencer did convince Helen to adopt a cougar. They added an entire room to the back of their house, complete with a huge cat door. This allowed Micah to come in and out for fresh air whenever it suited him. There was an enclosed cage outdoors that matched the area indoors.
Recently, Mr. Spencer was able to research his family history and traveled to Bald Knob, Arkansas to visit his mother's grave. He also learned his brother had 4 daughters and was able to connect with a couple of his new found nieces and their families. Sadly, one of his nieces, Janis Lynn Spencer Dunbar passed away suddenly in her sleep in January 2023.
Mr. Spencer's final resting place will be next to his wife, Helen, at Beal Memorial Cemetery.