November 1, 1944 – August 28, 2022
Richard Payne Spencer, Jr. (aka. Dick Spencer), age 77, died of natural causes, quickly and without pain, on August 28th at his San Marino, California, residence with his beloved wife of 54 years at his side.
Son of the late Richard Payne Spencer and Mary Ruth Cannon, he was born November 1, 1944, in Concord, North Carolina. He moved with his parents to Palo Alto, California, as a young boy. He spent his childhood and youth in Portola Valley, where he became an Eagle Scout with his father as his scoutmaster.
After marrying his sweetheart, Janean Richardson, they raised their family in San Marino. Mr. Spencer has made his home in the Carmel Highlands since 2003.
He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science and business administration from the University of Southern California and Pepperdine University.
At age 21, he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On April 4, 1968, he married and was sealed for time and all eternity to Janean Richardson, of Los Altos, in the Oakland Temple.
He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War where he became a decorated officer in a combat zone. He was awarded a Bronze Star for Service in the Army Corps of Engineers.
Family life as a husband, father and son has been his top priority. Dick and Janean raised nine children and have forty-seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
He was self-employed in the investment business for more than fifty years and built the Spencer Family Office and trained his two successor sons. He was active in local, state and national politics.
Dick and Janean served the people of Cambodia as full-time missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2010-2012, teaching the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ to all. He served in many capacities in his religious faith to include gospel principles teacher, ward mission leader, stake mission president, high councilor and bishop.
Dick authored countless books, articles and poetry on life, family, patriotism, war, business, morality, religion, and the beauty of the land and sea. He enjoyed spending time with his family, reading, writing, serving others, researching family history, riding horses and driving high-performance motorcars. He leaves a legacy of faith, family, love, charity and generosity.
