Guy J Spencer, Jr, 82, of Huntsville passed away Monday at Huntsville Hospital after a brief illness. He was born in Huntsville and attended East Clinton, Huntsville Jr. High and Huntsville High School and graduated from Sewanee Military Academy in 1951. Mr. Spencer attended The University of Alabama where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He left the University in 1954 to serve his country as a member of the U. S. Army Signal Corps.
Mr. Spencer joined the family business, Alabama Oil Company in 1956 where he became president in 1964 following the death of his father. He later acquired Midsouth Oil Company of Birmingham and formed Midsouth Ice Company, which became the largest manufacturer of packaged ice in the Southeast. He incorporated the three divisions to form The Spencer Companies. The Ice Division was later sold and the Company added the purchase of Thrasher Oil Company. Mr. Spencer served as Chairman of the Board of The Spencer Companies until the time of his death.
Mr. Spencer believed strongly in giving back to his community. He was a Founding Director of Citizens Independent Bank (now First Commercial Bank), a Trustee of the UAHuntsville Foundation, Randolph School Board of Trustees, President of the Huntsville Museum of Art Foundation and a Director and Chairman of the Huntsville Convention and Visitors Bureau Board. He was a member of the University of Alabama President’s Cabinet, Chairman of The Chamber of Commerce and served as the Chairman of The Huntsville Depot Museum for 19 years.
He was awarded The Outstanding Oilman Award by the Alabama Petroleum Council, Man of the Year by the Alabama Petroleum Marketers Association, a certificate of Merit for Outstanding Service to the Community by the Madison County Commission and the Humanitarian Award by the Arthritis Foundation.
Mr. Spencer is survived by his wife of 29 years, Sally C. Spencer; children, Sarah Chappell and husband, Mike, J Spencer, Lucy Walser and husband, Adam, and John LeGrand and wife, Janet; and grandchildren, John Michael Chappell, Spencer Chappell, Austin Spencer, Kylie Spencer, and Sally Walser.
Visitation will be from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. Saturday in Ridley Hall at The Church of the Nativity. A funeral service will follow with The Reverend Rusty McCown and the Reverend Joe Essner officiating. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Childhaven, Inc. Orphanage, P. O. Box 2070, Cullman, AL 35056 or The Huntsville Pilgrimage Association, P. O. Box 2962, Huntsville, AL 35804.
