Melvin J. Spencer

January 2, 1923 – March 4, 2022

Oklahoma City - Melvin J. Spencer died peacefully in his sleep and entered Heaven's Gates on March 4, 2022. We have lost our faithful patriarch who prayed daily for each member of our family. He was a devout Christian and active member of Free Methodist Church.

He was born in Buffalo Center, Iowa on January 2, 1923. He grew up in Mason City, IA where he lived until enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He served from 1942-1945. During his service, he was Second Lieutenant, Navigator, Eighth Air Force, United Kingdom; shot down over Germany, February 10, 1944 and was a German POW Stalag Luft 1 for 15 months. He resigned as Captain from the Air Force reserves in 1955.

He was highly educated. He held a BA from University of Michigan, 1948 (Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi), JD Cum Laude, University of Michigan Law School, 1950 (Order of the Coif: Associate Editor, Michigan Law Review), and received letter in athletics.

His career, over the years, was extensive. In 1950-1961, Associate and Partner of Watson, Ess Whitaker, Marshal & Enggas, Kansas City, MO, Municipal Judge, Roeland Park, KS, City Council, Roeland Park, KS; 1961-1975 Associate and Partner Miller, Malone, Adams, and Rogers, later Miller and Spencer. 1975-1992 Administrator Deaconess Hospital in OKC, 1992-1993 as consultant for Deaconess Hospital.

Other highlights: Member of the State Bar Associations in Iowa (1950), Missouri (1950), Oklahoma (1961), member of the Oklahoma County Bar Association; member of the Bar of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals of the United States; member of the Bar of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals of the United States; area Republican precinct chairman (1968-69); delegate to the Republican State convention (1968 & 1996), Director of Union Bank and Trust Company (1977-88 & 1988-95); Director/Secretary of Hospital Casualty Co., (1977-1992); Director of Deaconess Hospital (1974-2005); General Counsel, Director, Secretary and Member of Board of Administration (1969-1999); General Conference of the Free Methodist Church of North America, Member, Investment Committee, FMCNA (1976-1987); Director and Chairman of Free Methodist Foundation, (1987-1999); Director of King Trust Company (1999); Member, Constitutional Counsel of Free Methodist World Fellowship (1975-1995); Trustee and Vice Chairman of the Board, Central College in McPherson, KS (1972-1986); Director of Emergency Medical Services of Central Oklahoma (1975-1978); Trustee of Oklahoma Ambulance Trust (1984-1987); Director of Oklahoma Christian Counseling Center (1973-1975); Trustee of Oklahoma Hospital Association (1978-1984); Chairman of Oklahoma Hospital Association (1983); Advisory Board at OSU Tech Nursing School (1980-1992); Director of Butterfield Memorial Foundation (2006-2017); Chairman of Oklahoma Hospital Association (1983); Butterfield Memorial Foundation (2010-2017). He was a member of the 95th Bomb Group Heritage Association, member 95th Bomb Group Memorial Foundation.

He was preceded in death by his beloved spouse, Dena Joyce Spencer. Survivors include: Dennis N. Spencer (Jana), Dr. Gregory M. Spencer (Shari), Shelly L. Goodnight (David). Grandchildren: Morgan Spencer, Reid Spencer (Esmie), Stuart Spencer (Jade), Nathaniel Spencer (Lauran), Kristen Rosenau (Kameron), Elizabeth Jackson (Sean), Audra Lee (Nick), Ethan Goodnight (Maria), Laura Goodnight. Great-Grandchildren: Kalen Spencer, Tatum Spencer, Georgia Spencer, Trenton Spencer, Edson Spencer, Leighton Spencer, Riley Jackson, Lincoln Rosenau, Everly Spencer, Josie Jackson, and Remington Rosenau.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Melvin J. Spencer to Butterfield Memorial Foundation, 8308 N. May, Oklahoma City, OK 73120 or www.butterfieldfoundation.org – funds designated for Deaconess Hospital, Nundu, Congo.

Services to be held at Resurrection Free Methodist Church, 6000 N. MacArthur, Warr Acres, OK on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. To share a memory or condolence, visit www.mercer-adams.com

Oklahoman, The (Oklahoma City, OK) - Thursday, March 10, 2022