Ralph Curtis Spencer

Ralph Curtis Spencer went home to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday morning, October 28, 2025, at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston Salem, NC.

He was born on September 28, 1933 to Rufus Lionel Spencer Sr. and Irene Draughn Spencer in Edwards Township (now Benham), North Carolina. He graduated from Traphill High School in 1951 and joined the US Navy where he served four years on the USS Coral Sea as a Machinery Repairman obtaining the rank of First Class Petty Officer. After honorable discharge in 1956, he married Betty Brown Spencer of Ronda, NC and they had four children. He was employed by RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company in 1956 where he worked as machinist, CNC programmer and department supervisor until his retirement in 1986. He attended Winsalm College where he obtained an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration in 1976. After the death of his first wife Betty of 55 years, he married Joyce Draughn Spencer in 2013. He was an active member of Marshall Baptist Church where he proudly served as Missions Coordinator, visiting many missionaries abroad and developing life-long friendships. He enjoyed outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, hiking and camping, and was an accomplished marksman and shooting instructor who won many shooting competitions.

He is survived by his wife of twelve years, Joyce Draughn Spencer of Winston-Salem, two daughters Karen Spencer Rock of King, NC and Patricia Spencer Dudley and husband Donald of Loganville, GA, and a son, Robert Spencer and wife Tricia of Wilmington, NC, six grandchildren; April Rock Roberson and husband Steven of King, NC, Bradley Rock and wife Jennifer of Trinity, NC, Sara Dudley Gillespie and husband Zach of Monroe, GA, Anna Dudley Parker and husband Clay of Monroe, GA, Ryan Spencer and wife Erin of Columbia Falls, MT and Megan Spencer of Boone, NC, and twelve great-grandchildren; Lanie, Carson and Gage Roberson, Charlotte and Caroline Rock, Liam and Tuck Gillespie, Gage, Gram, Wrenlee and Waverly Parker and Hudson Spencer.

He was preceded in death by his parents Rufus Lionel and Irene Spencer, his first wife Betty Brown Spencer, brother RL Spencer Jr, sister Sue Spencer Luffman, daughter Robin Spencer Tolbert, and son-in-law Philip Rock. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday November 2, 2025, at Marshall Baptist Church with Rev. John Holmes and Rev. Richard Dodson officiating. The family will receive friends an hour prior at the church. Burial will follow the service in the church cemetery.