Thad Burke Spence

THAD BURKE SPENCE, 93, of North Little Rock passed away Friday, July 14, 2017. He was born in Hoxie, Ark., to parents Ernest H. and Mary Spence. Thad graduated from North Little Rock High School, attended Hendrix College and graduated from the University of Arkansas. He served his country in the Army Air Corp during WWII as a radio operator and rear tail gunner on the B-24's. Thad was a lifelong member of the Gardner Memorial United Methodist Church. He was a manufacturer's representative for Spence Sales Associates, selling metal related products and services until 1994, making his last sales call at the age of 70 and retiring for the second time. Thad played baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks, shot his age in golf a number of times, recorded five holes in one and won tennis titles in the Arkansas Senior Olympics. He enjoyed catching his limit of bass and also hunting squirrels in the Ozarks. Thad is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, James R. and Claud L. Spence. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Virginia Howell Spence; daughter Jan Robertson (Jack); son Bryan Spence (Lainie); grandchildren Allison Cook (Christopher), Sheffield Spence, Katie Robertson and great-grandson ,Thad Everett Cook as well as his brothers Reynard and Skip Spence. The Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 19 at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Rd., North Little Rock with a visitation in the Community Room following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gardner Memorial United Methodist Church, 1723 Schaer St., North Little Rock or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Online guestbook www.griffinleggettresthills.com.