Sheldon Spencer

Obituary
Sheldon "RED" Whitesides Spencer
Sheldon "RED" Whitesides Spencer, 97, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2018 at White Oak Manor, Kings Mountain, NC.
He was born on July 8, 1921 in Gastonia, NC, the son of the late Carl Brady and Effie Whitesides Spencer, and grandson of the late Frank and Alminer Hanna Spencer.
He was married to the late Margaret Spencer and is survived by his daughters, Melinda K Spencer of Irmo, SC and Shelda Spencer Rees (Joe) of Chattanooga, TN; brother-in-law Troy Howard of Charlotte, nieces Crystal Howard Morrison (Earl) of Lake Lure, NC, Darinda Fredrickson (Skip) of McAdenville, Jayne McAlister (Wayne), Bessemer City, Sarah Woodard (John) of Denver, NC; and nephews Barre Spencer of Mt Holly, NC, Chris Spencer (Kathy), Bessemer City; cousins Jane Falls of Gastonia, Mary Falls Moody (RB) of Greensboro NC, LaFon Spencer (Ruby), Beth Wolfe (Max), Beverly Kimbro (Jack), Robert Oakley (Juanita), all of Gastonia, Barbara Olson of Raleigh, NC, Carl Hanna, and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews and one grand-dog Molly.
Sheldon was raised on Spencer Avenue in Gastonia and was preceded in death by his brothers Carl Haskell Spencer (Ruth), William Howard Spencer (Frances), and sister Helen Spencer Foy (Luther); nephews Wayne Spencer and David Spencer, and cousin Moffat Falls .
The family will receive friends at Greene Funeral Home on Friday November 2 from 5:00pm –7:00pm. The funeral services will be held at 11:30am on Saturday November 3 at Pisgah ARP Church, 3600 Linwood Road, Gastonia, NC officiated by Rev. Rick Lewis, where Sheldon has been a member for 97 years. Burial will take place in the Pisgah Church Cemetery across the street with Military Rites provided by the Gaston County Honor Guard.
Sheldon's nickname RED comes from his fire engine red hair growing up. He was a fun-loving person with a friendly nature and loved to laugh.
Red graduated from Ashley High School and Davidson College before enlisting in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He served in the Pacific Campaign as a radio communications operator and was station on Guam, Corregidor, the Philippines, and Okinawa. Corporal Spencer was called back up for the Korean War Conflict and served in California. Red was extremely proud of his service to his county and two of his greatest joys were his participation in the Last Man's Club Honor Guard and his Honor Flight to see the WWII Memorial in Washington DC.
After he returned from California, he enrolled in the CRE Institute in Washington DC studying a new technology called Television. After graduation, he was hired by a Charlotte TV Station with the call letters of WBT- Channel 3, a CBS affiliate, where he worked for almost 35 years on Spencer Mountain as a television technician engineer and then, supervisor. His last project was the erection of the WBT transmitting tower in Dallas, NC and at that time it was the tallest in the NC/VA area.
After retirement and at the age of 65, Red took glider pilot lessons in Chester SC and became a licensed glider pilot flying numerous times over the next 15 years until his 80th birthday. He loved to travel and saw all 50 states and most of Canada in his camper with his Davidson College roommate Fred Ford of Ohio.
Coming from a talented musical family, Red, his father and his brothers and sister all played instruments and sang even having "singings" at their house on Sunday afternoons. Red and his brothers performed with the American Legion " Rambin' Rebels Drum & Bugle Corp" The group won numerous competitions and never missed a Gastonia or Charlotte Christmas Parade. Red joined the Pisgah Church choir at the age of 10 and sang until the age of 95 rarely missing a Sunday Service.
With his strong work ethic, even after retirement, he couldn't sit still and continued to repair televisions for friends and family, was Mr. Handyman at church and for his daughters, he delivered Meals on Wheels, was a lifetime member of the Lions and Kiwanis Clubs. He enjoyed having breakfast at Medical Center Pharmacy and lunch at Firestone Grille over the years.
The family has requested instead of flowers that memorials be sent to:
The Adult Choir, Pisgah ARP Church, 3600 Linwood Road, Gastonia 28052
Honoring The Sacrifice (a program for our wounded veterans) P O Box 21806, Chattanooga TN 37424
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at both Summit Place Assisted Living and White Oak Manor in Kings Mtn. for all of their attention and love that they showed Red during the time he spent with them.
Greene Funeral Service South Chapel is assisting the family with their arrangements.