Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Rollin Edward Spencer, age 81, entered the gates of Heaven on January 9, 2023. He was in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Springfield, IL on November 20, 1941, to Paul and Helen Spencer. He grew up with three brothers, Denny, Carroll, and Steve.
Rollin graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1959. He attended Wayland Baptist College, where he met and fell in love with Alice Frances Spencer. They married on September 1, 1962. He earned his BA from Wayland College in Plainview, Texas, in 1965. In 1968 he earned his Master’s in Divinity from Golden Gate Seminary in Mill Valley, California. Rollin and Fran had three children, daughters Christie and Carrie, and son, Randy.
He moved his family to Gatesville in 1975, where he and Fran found a beloved church family at Live Oak Baptist Church. He sincerely enjoyed his time at Live Oak, singing in the choir, fellowshipping with families and friends, and teaching Sunday school. They would go camping every summer in Fun Valley with their friends. They spent their time fishing, sitting around the campfire, and taking Jeep excursions in the surrounding areas. These trips created memories that will last a lifetime.
In 2002, their granddaughter Kelsey was born and they made the decision to sell their family home in Gatesville and move to Pflugerville, Texas to help take care of her. After retiring from the Texas Department of Corrections in 2003, they opened their hearts and home to start a daycare. All the children lovingly called him Grandpa or Papa. He deeply cherished his time caring for these children.
He enjoyed his golden years spending time with his grandchildren, Joey, Kelsey, and Spencer, and eventually his great-grandchildren, Addison, Vaden, and Skye. If he wasn't spending time with family, you could easily find him on the golf course, playing tennis or fishing with his friends.
He was a kind and generous man, never missing a beat to help others. He was hard working, dedicated to caring and providing for his family. He was a devoted man of God and loved unconditionally. He loved to laugh and was always ready to share a funny story or a joke at a moment's notice. He touched the lives of many and loved them all with every piece of his heart. He will be dearly missed and forever treasured.
Rollin was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Helen Spencer; two brothers, Carol Spencer and Denny Spencer; and son, Randy Spencer.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Fran Spencer; daughter Christie Garrett, husband Tom; daughter Carrie Spencer; grandchildren Joey Spencer; Kelsey Garrett; Spencer Garrett; great-grandchildren Addison Spencer; Vaden Spencer; Skye Spencer; his brother, Steve Spencer and wife, Janice; his sisters-in-law Diana Truett and Jan Spencer, brother-in-law James Barron and wife, Edith, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
The Celebration of Life will be held on February 18, 2023, at Calvary Chapel of Austin, located at 1601 W Pecan Street, Pflugerville, at 2 p.m.
