Spencer, Leland Graves
Leland Graves Spencer, 98, of Blacksburg, died on Monday, July 9, 2007 at Montgomery Regional Hospital. He was born June 7, 1909 in North Scituate, R.I., the son of William E. and Josephine V. Spencer.
He attended rural schools there and graduated from Providence Technical High School. After two years in lumber company work, he began a career with the General Electric Company which lasted for 46 years. He started in the apprentice and business training programs and moved into the financial management area with assignments in Pittsfield, Mass.; Decatur, Ill.; Bridgeport, Conn.; and finally in Auburn, N.Y. where he retired in 1973 as Manager of Finance. For many years he was active in the National Association of Cost Accountants, now the Institute of Management Accountants.
Following his retirement, Mr. Spencer began a second career in public service with the Town of Fleming in New York where he served on the Zoning Board and was elected to the Town Council and, for six terms, as Town Supervisor. He also performed volunteer work with RSVP, SCORE, Special Olympics, and hospitals in Auburn, New York and Decatur, Ill., the two cities in which he spent the majority of his retirement years. He moved to Blacksburg in 1998 and lived at the Showalter Center and, subsequently, the Kroontje Center of the Warm Hearth Community.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters and four brothers; his wives, Mary J. Sullivan and Lucille J. Robbins; and one son, Bruce W. Spencer. He is survived by a daughter, Marilee A. Gordon of Decatur, Ill.; a son and daughter-in-law, Edward F. D. and Norrine Bailey Spencer of Blacksburg; three grandchildren, Holly K. Gray of Cabool, Mo., Robyn D. Gordon of Siloam Springs, Ark., and Andrew B. Spencer of Blacksburg; six great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service and inurnment of ashes will take place at a later date in North Scituate, R.I. Memorial contributions may be made to the Warm Hearth Foundation, 2607 Warm Hearth Drive, Suite 100, Blacksburg, VA 24060-6287.