The Hadwen Family of Lancashire

James Robert (Bob) Spencer, 95, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 1, 2007. The eldest of four children, Bob and his brother, Wayne, were born on September 13, 1912 to Isaac Wells Spencer and Mary Ellen Jones on a homestead in Camas Valley, Oregon. When asked, Bob stated that his earliest memory was bending over to smell a flower. This love for growing things permeated both his professional and personal life. After graduating from San Fernando High School in 1932, this love led him to earn a chemistry degree from Glendale Jr. College in 1939, followed by a degree in agronomy from Oregon State University, Corvallis in 1946. He then served on the faculty of New Mexico State University in Las Cruses teaching agronomy, before becoming Management Agronomist at Sandia Base in Albuquerque, NM. In October, 1951 Bob moved to Indio to work at the Coachella Valley County Water District (now CVWD) as Water Resources Engineer until his retirement in 1978. Personally, Bob also worked to grow the souls of others. This led him to attend the Bible Institute of Los Angeles the summer of 1948. He and his wife, Alda Woodbury Spencer, established Child Evangelism Fellowship from Twenty-nine Palms through the low desert to Eagle Mountain. Together they also founded the "Good News Club at the Fair," which has spread across the nation. Bob was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church in Indio, and also helped found Southwest Community Church. As a member of Gideons International, Bob led Protestant services at the Riverside County Jail and the Juvenile Hall, and counseled juvenile inmates. In retirement, Bob traveled extensively, visiting the Philippines, China, Hong Kong, the Indochina Peninsula and many African countries. He also continued his jail ministries before finally moving with Alda to Alhambra, nearer to family members. Bob is survived by Alda, his wife of 66 years; sister Ruth Cronberg; daughters, Joyce Spencer and Patty Ellis; grandchildren Stephanie Raby, Shannon Smith, Paul (Bobby) Ellis, Peter Ellis, Pamila Ellis, Devin Hussein; and great-grandchildren Kaleo Smith, Tyler Raby, Caleb Ellis and Heidi Ellis. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Baptist Church in Indio on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at 9:30 AM. Bob's family requests the presence of all who knew him and were impacted professionally, personally or spiritually by his love of growing things. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in Bob's name to Gideon's or Child Evangelism Fellowship.