Richard (Dick) Spencer

I think not how sad it will be when you are gone, but rather how empty it would have been had you never come. -unknown

Spencer, Richard ( Dick ) A.
Dearly loved Dick Spencer, 72, of Centennial passed away June 13, 2007. He is survived by his wife, Martha, children Mark, Brad, Leslie McConnon and two grandsons, Scott and Hayden. He will be remembered for his incredible strength and wisdom, and the compassion he had for the people he loved. He was a gentle man with a kind heart.

Dick was born on April 26, 1935 to Helen Vogelsong and Howard F. Spencer. He was the middle child, with older brothers Van and Barry and younger sisters Lisanne (Fyock) and Carol (Larkin).

He graduated from Evans City High School in 1954 where he was active in sports, including: basketball, football and baseball.

While attending Grove City College he earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering and worked part time at Mine Safety Appliances. Dick was in the top 15% of his class and earned a Merit award for his academic achievement.

Dick and Martha moved to Colorado and Dick became an aeronautical engineer at Martin Marietta (later Lockheed Martin). He was involved in aerospace engineering at an exciting time, from before man walked on the moon to the Space Shuttle missions. Throughout his career he received multiple inventor awards for his contributions to the advancement of aerospace engineering. He retired in 1993 after 29 years at Martin.

Dick was an avid golfer and gardener. As a teenager he found a driver club and used it to win a long drive golf contest. He played in multiple leagues including the Martin Twilight League and the MARS Golf League. In 2005 he won the Martin Retirement Golf League Golf Champion award for the best score in the 2-day tournament. He thoroughly enjoyed playing golf and the time spent with friends.

His passion for gardening & forestry began early and continued his entire life. Dick established a evergreen nursery at the farm he grew up on while going to college. In 1993 he became an Arapahoe County Master Gardener through the CSU Extension program. Each year he would raise 50-60 tomatoes plant from seed of multiple varieties and in late spring he would invite the neighbors in to select plants for their own gardens. His delicious vegetables and fruits, including tomatoes, cherries, peppers, and squash were a treat his family and neighbors looked forward to every summer!

Additional recreational sports that Dick enjoyed included skiing, boogie boarding, roller skating, and bowling.

Celebration of Life Service, 6/19/07, 11:00 am at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 6322 S. Lakeview St., Littleton, CO 80120. In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of the following charities and denote on the memo line - Dick Spencer:

Rocky Mountain Cancer Center Foundation
1161 South Vivian Street
Lakewood, CO 80228
(303-388-4876),

Colorado Humane Society
2760 South Platte
Englewood, CO
(303-781-9344)


Master Gardener Program
Please make checks payable to:
American County Extension Fund
5804 South Datura Street
Littleton, CO 80120-2112
(303-738-7966)