Sandra Spencer

Sandra Jean Spencer, 63, from Gnadenhutten, Ohio, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, from congestive heart failure due to complications of chemotherapy, on Thursday, January 20, 2011.

Sandy was born on the 26th of January 1947 in Alliance, Ohio to the late Paul Thompson, Jr. and Norma Jean (Rardon) Thompson. She grew up in the Alliance area and was a graduate of Marlington High School in the class of 1965.

Sandy was dedicated to God, husband, family, church and the community. She attended Full Gospel Pentecostal Church. She overcame multiple sclerosis and cancer with God’s miracles. She received the Heckewelder award for community service for the research and construction of life-like wood figures at Gnadenhutten Museum for their Christmas display.

Sandy also helped her husband, Dale Spencer, in their wood shop, making rocking chairs and many different craft items. In her earlier years, she had many other endeavors, such as reupholstering furniture, decorating cakes, cleaning houses and doctor offices, and working on cars with her husband. She was also a member of the gospel singing group “The Solid Rock Singers”.

Predeceasing Sandy is an infant daughter, Michele Lynn, who passed at the age of five months in 1969.

She is survived by her husband of thirty-seven years, E. Dale Spencer, to whom she was married on January 20, 1974; a brother, Ray Thompson and his wife, Karen, of Spring Valley, Ca. and their daughters, Adrienne Thompson also of Spring Valley and Barbara Bentley of Apple Valley, Ca.; a son, Kevin Parr and his wife, Becky, of Gnadenhutten and her grandsons, Nathan and Joel Parr also of Gnadenhutten; a stepson, Tom Spencer and his wife, Lori, of Middleburg Heights and their two daughters, Kelly and Alana; a stepdaughter, Lisa Cardani and her husband, Brian, of Uhrichsville and their two sons, Christopher Weaver and his companion, Kristain Harshbarger, of Uhrichsville and Tyler Weaver, a Marine, serving in Kingsbay, Ga.; a brother-in-law, Ralph Spencer of Gnadenhutten; a sister-in-law, Patricia Hupp of Gnadenhutten; and many nieces and nephews who were very special to her.

Visiting hours and funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 25, 2011. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. at the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home at Dennison, officiated by Pastor Sandra Mann. Interment will follow in Gnadenhutten-Clay Union Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Gnadenhutten United Methodist church. Those wishing to honor Sandy’s memory by a charitable contribution are encouraged to do so to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, Inc.
(740) 922-1970
www.lindseyfh.com