More detail on this person: Charles William
Spencer, age 65, passed away peacefully on April
3, 2013 at the UAB Medical Center with his wife
and daughter by his side after a courageous battle
with brain cancer for over 20 years. He was born
on August 26, 1947 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Under an NROTC scholarship, Bill graduated from
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
with his BA in History and a regular commission in
the USMC as a 2nd Lt. Following completion of The
Marine Officer Basic School, he began his military
aviation training under the US Army helicopter
program at Ft. Wolters, Texas and Ft. Rucker, AL.
Upon receipt of his Army Flight Wings, he reported
to MCAS New River, North Carolina for pilot
training in the CH-46 and concurrent training for
his Wings of Gold. "Grouch", as a member of the
HMM 164, participated in the squadron flight
operations in support of the ground efforts in
Vietnam. After his return stateside, Bill reported
to NAS Meridian, Mississippi, for further training
to transition as a pilot from helicopter to jet.
While at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, Bill
flew the A-6E Intruder and TA-4F/J for many years.
Official orders transferred him to VT-10, NAS
Pensacola, where he served as an Instructor Pilot
and the Flight/Academic Standardization Officer.
It was during this assignment that "Grouch" was
selected as an Instructor of the Year and received
his promotion to Major. His final military
assignment brought Bill back to Florida to VT- 6,
NAS Whiting Field, where he served as the
Operations Officer and as an Instructor Pilot,
that responsibility being the most important to
him. Upon retirement, Bill became a Boeing-747
Flight Engineer with TWA until the medical
condition prevented him from employment in a
cockpit environment.
As education and training were important, Bill
returned to school, completing a BA in Special
Education and an MA in Clinical Teaching. He
taught as an adjunct ABE instructor at Pensacola
Junior College and as an Exceptional Student
Educator in Escambia County. Until his medical
condition prevented him from driving, Bill worked
as a Flight Simulator Operator at the Naval
Aviation Museum and volunteered at the ARC
Gateway Nursery. He was an active member of
Holy Cross Episcopal Church serving in several
ministries. While flying and teaching were
important to him, Spencer was also an avid sailor,
gardener, potter, woodworker, bridge-player,
reader and sometimes bowler or golfer.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Lt.
Col. Donald Eugene Spencer USMC Ret. and Ida
Williams Spencer. He is survived by his wife of 43
years, Sharon (Jo) Arthur Spencer; daughter, Sara
Leanne Sharratt and her husband, Shawn;
granddaughter, Lillian Grace Sharratt; sister,
Donna Spencer Dooley and her husband, Tom;
brother, Col. Thomas W. Spencer USMC Ret. and
his wife, Kennette ; special nieces, nephews, the
Spencer cousins, the Arthur in-laws, and his
special caregiver, Rutha B. Hardaway. Major
Spencer (Mr. Bill) leaves behind many dear friends
and colleagues that loved and cared for him.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on
Saturday, April 27, 2013 at Holy Cross Episcopal
Church, 7979 N. 9th Avenue, with the Reverend Jeff
Jencks officiating. Inurnment will take place at
Arlington National Cemetery later.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial
gift donation to the National Brain Tumor Society,
the Wounded Warrior Project, or ARC Gateway.
Express your condolences in our guestbook at
pnj.com/obits
Published in Pensacola News Journal on April 26,
2013
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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