David Ross Spence, 88, of Harvest, died May 27, 2018 at his son’s home surrounded
by family.
Born April 28, 1930, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was the 5th of 6 children born to Inez
Elva and Robert Roy Spence. David grew up during the Depression and moved with
his family many times as they followed the migrant camps and worked picking
crops. He graduated from Peoria, Arizona High School in 1948 and served in the
Marine Corps from 1951-1953. He attended the University of Oklahoma on his GI
bill where he received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He
married Joan Hawkins on January 23, 1959 and was blessed with one child, his son,
Timothy Charles Spence.
David had a very colorful and interesting career beginning with a position at NASA
in Houston, Texas, then with Northrop in Huntsville, Alabama and moved on to the
Department of Energy in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; and finally
Aiken, South Carolina. He retired in 1994 and did consulting on accident
investigations for the Department of Energy until 2001. He loved sharing his
experiences and adventures and there was always a story for any listening ear. In
recent years, David donated some of his NASA memorabilia to his Alma Mater, the
University of Oklahoma and his grandson’s Alma Mater, Mississippi State. David was
a motorcycle enthusiast, and passed that love on to his son and grandson. He
enjoyed working on motorcycles, writing limericks, and puttering around on his
land. He and Joan moved back to the Huntsville area in 1996 to be nearer to his son
and two grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Joan; his son and daughter-in-law Timothy and Kay
Spence of Huntsville, AL; his granddaughter, Katie Spence of Birmingham, AL; and
his grandson, Michael Spence of Huntsville, AL.
Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Wednesday, May 30 at Messiah Lutheran
Church in Madison with Pastor Scott Peterson officiating. Burial will be at
Huntsville Memory Gardens under the direction of Madison Chapel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to make a donation to Hospice Family Care of
Huntsville Hospital, East Limestone Senior Center, Athens Veterans Museum or your
favorite charity.
