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Charles (Hamilton) Spencer
Longtime Cooper Landing resident Charles (Hamilton) Spencer died
Sunday, May 21, 2000, at his residence in Cooper Landing. He was 74.
Funeral services will be at noon Saturday at
St. John Neumann Mission Catholic Church in Cooper Landing. Visitation will be
from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the church. Deacon Wally Corrigan will officiate. A
celebration of life service also will be held on July 13, his 75th birthday.
Pallbearers will be friends of Mr. Spencer.
Mr. Spencer was born July 13, 1925, at Argenta,
Ill. He grew up and received his education in Argenta, graduating in 1947. After
high school he moved to Decatur, Ill. On Feb. 18, 1946, he began his service
with the U.S. Army, serving during World War II. While in the Army, he was an
honor guard for Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He was an honor guard from Oct. 11, 1946
to June 12, 1947.
After his honorable discharge from the military
on Aug. 7, 1947, he returned to Illinois and worked for W.G. Traver Supply Co.
He worked there for 25 years before moving to Alaska in 1979.
He moved to Cooper Landing and began working
for Hamilton's Place in Cooper Landing, where he got the nickname Charlie
Hamilton. He continued working until the time of his death. He never missed a
day of work.
Mr. Spencer was a member of the American Legion
Post No. 5 of Seward, Eagles Aerie No. 1024 of Morris, Ill., V.F.W. Post No.
3999 of Flora, Ill., AmVets Post No. 4 of Soldotna, Moose Lodge Post 1942 of
Kenai, Air Force Sergeant's Association, and Gen. MacArthur's Honor Guard
Association. His greatest hobby was working and talking to people.
According to friends, "Charlie was a man who
would listen to everybody's problems, and was always able to help them out in
anyway possible. He was a loving father, grandfather, brother, and uncle to both
family and all he knew. He was one of the greatest guys anybody could ever know
and will never be replaced. He will be missed by all. Charlie loved to travel
and is now on the ultimate trip."
Charlie is survived by his sons, Remmington
VanAllen of Chicago and John Spencer of Decatur; his wife, Renee, of Decatur;
sister, Shirley Dengles of Lincoln, Ill.; longtime friends, Sandy Ramsey of
Forsyth, Ill., Cherbi Gachter and her daughter "Mouse" of Grand Rapids, Mich.;
and his extended family in Alaska at Hamilton's Place, Mark, Dodie, Scott, Todd,
Bryana and Michaela Wilson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be
sent to St. John Neumann Mission Catholic Church, P.O. Box 737, Cooper Landing,
AK 99572. Donations will be used for the Shrine of the Blessed Mother.
Peninsula Memorial Chapel of Kenai is in charge
of arrangements.
Source: Peninsula Clarion, May
25, 2000 |
