Spencer, Dana Richard

Dana Richard Spencer, 72, of Blacksburg, passed away October 28, 2013. He was born in Rochester, N.Y., December 22, 1940, son of the late R. Milford and Frances Vivian (Bateman) Spencer, of Spencerport, N.Y. Dana and his wife, Marilyn (Sanderson) Spencer, his one and only love, celebrated 50 years of marriage in September of this year. He is also survived by three children, Dawn (Dr. Thomas) Eberhardt, of Alexandria, La., Dana Ehren (Amy) Spencer, of N. Easton, Mass., and Sarah (SSgt.Eric) Compton, of Christiansburg; five dearly loved grandchildren, Emily and Elizabeth Eberhardt, Maizie and Emmaline Compton, and Finn Spencer; as well as his sister, Vivian (Edward) Miller, of Orlando, Fla.; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Dr. Spencer graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology (B.S., 1962), Hudson River State Hospital Dietetic Internship (R.D., 1963), Purdue University (MS, 1969), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (PhD., 1977), and Radford University (B.S., Anthropology), 1996). Captain Spencer served his country during the Vietnam Era (1964 to 1972). He later served as Assistant Administrator at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson, N.Y.; and taught food business management at Appalachian State University and Radford University. He was a private consultant in many nursing homes in Southwest Virginia. Dr. Spencer belonged to the Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford; The General Society of Mayflower Descendants; Society of Palatines to America; Cory Society; Bartlett Society; Life Member of the Burroughs Audubon Nature Club of Rochester, N.Y.; The Retired Officers Association; Retired Air Force Dietitian Association; Life Member Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.; Freedom From Religion Foundation; Fellow of the American Dietetic Association; Life Member Hospitality Society, Rochester Institute of Technology, where he was awarded the Sarah Margaret Gilliam Award in 1992, the highest honor in his field; and Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society. After his retirement, he enjoyed gardening, computer research, genealogy, gourmet cooking, and educational classes. At Dr. Spencer’s request, his cremains will be interred in Fairfield Cemetery, Spencerport, NY, beside his infant son, Daniel Richard Spencer. The family will celebrate his life in a private service at a later date in New York. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Spondylitis Association of America, P.O. Box 5872, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413, or the American Heart Association . Condolences or contact with family may be made online or in care of McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive, Blacksburg.