Spencer, Elwin A. 1935-2023 Lakeview, Ark.
By NewsPress Now
LAKEVIEW, Ark. – Elwin Arnold Spencer, 88, of Lakeview, Arkansas, passed away on Dec. 31, 2023, after a short illness. Elwin was known as “Bud” to all his friends and family. Bud passed away peacefully at the Care Manor nursing home, in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
Bud was born in Wayne Township, Doniphan County Kansas, on July 1, 1935. Bud continued the many generations of Spencer’s with the initials “E A Spencer”. He grew up in the farming community of Cummings, Kansas, and graduated from Atchison County Community High School in 1953. While living in Atchison Bud married his first wife, Dorothy, and started a family. Bud eventually moved to St. Joseph and began his 35-year career as a long-haul truck driver for Crouch Brothers. He ended his career with Yellow Freight.
Bud married his second wife, Sally, in 1974. Bud and Sally opened the Spencer’s Ice Cream store in St. Joseph, which was a popular destination for kids and families to hang out and enjoy the ice cream and home-made cakes and assorted desserts. Sally managed the store while Bud continued his career as a truck driver. Bud enjoyed going to garage sales and buying things he could fix. Bud also became a Freemason in 1977 and was a Master Mason of the 3rd degree. Bud was proud to be part of the Moila Shriners motorcycle group and loved to ride his bike in parades and competitions. Bud and Sally eventually moved to Matteson, Illinois, before retiring and building a new home in Upsala, Minnesota, which they designed and built themselves. Bud and Sally moved to Lakeview in 2001 where they enjoyed the peaceful country, driving to see friends, going to casinos, bowling, and playing dominos and cards with friends and neighbors.
After Sally passed away in 2014, Bud had the good fortune to meet Laura Norman. Laura had recently lost her husband, and she and Bud struck up a friendship which would last the rest of his life. Since 2015 Laura had been Bud’s best friend, loving soulmate, and constant companion.
Bud is survived by his children, Eugene A. Spencer (aka Tony), Scott (Joanne) Spencer, and Vicki (Tom) Ketchum; grandchildren, Haley (Landon) Huckins, Andrew (Madeline) Spencer, Elizabeth Spencer, Brian Lilley, and Kurt Lilley; great-grandchildren, Kason and Rylan Huckins, and Shepherd Spencer.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years Marcella “Sally” Spencer; parents, Raymond and Wahnita Spencer; and sister, Ray Dean Schurman.
No funeral or memorial service is immediately planned.
Arrangements are by Kirby & Family Funeral & Cremation Services. Please visit our online guestbook and obituary at www.kirbyandfamily.com. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
