SPENCER, ROBERT

Born July 31, 1921, he died Monday, Nov. 26, 2001. He was 80 and a native of Laurel, Miss. Visiting at Welsh Funeral Home chapel from 10 a.m. until religious services at 2 p.m. Friday, conducted by the Rev. Jim Spencer. Interment in Roselawn Memorial Park.

Survived by his wife, Helen Nalley Spencer; three sons, R. Wilson and wife Mary Lou Spencer, Richard T. and wife Patricia Spencer, and Gene A. and wife Philomena Spencer; two granddaughters, Michelle Ridge and Lori Lopez of California; a grandson, Mathew Patrick Spencer of Virginia; five great-grandchildren, Patrick, Ashley and Gary Ridge and Jessica and Alyssa Lopez; and two sisters-in-law, Ollie Spencer and Delaney Nalley. Preceded in death by his parents, T.D. Spencer and Mary Lou Robison Spencer; and three brothers, Tom, Talmadge and W.E. Spencer.

He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II and was personally chosen by Col. James Roosevelt to be a member of his personal battalion, the Marine Raiders, operating in the South Pacific. He had a very distinguished career, being wounded twice in making six opposed landings against defended beaches. He was noted as a superior riflesmith, an accomplished maker of Indian arrowheads and for his work in developing an Indian village site in eastern Texas, which he donated to the Texas University, known as the Spencer Site. He was employed at the Exxon plant in Baton Rouge for 30 years, having retired due to a disability relating to wounds received in action against the Japanese.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge.