Obituary of William Spencer

William (Bill) passed away peacefully this August 26th, at the age of 92, at the Windsor Regional Hospital. The family wishes to thank the compassionate and committed staff there who helped make his last days more comfortable. Bill was born in Windsor, Ontario on September 12, 1931, the second child of Norman Leonard Spencer, QC, member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1958-1962, and Thelma Calder Beck. Bill has a sister Margret (late Ed) living in Union Springs, Alabama and he was predeceased by his older brother Norman (wife Margo). Loving sister in law Marilyn (late John).

He attended University of Toronto and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1958, a profession that he started at 8 years old by keeping an accounting journal and continued throughout his career. After five years of apprenticeship in Windsor, while also holding a night job at the Commodore Hotel, he started with the international firm of Deloitte Haskins and Sells Chartered Accountants and then moved to the family business of The Butcher Engineering Enterprises in 1964 as the comptroller where he held various positions until becoming President, expertly guiding the company through its many business opportunities. A member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, the Windsor Club, Canada CPA, the Windsor Curling Club and Beach Grove Country Club, as its past president, Bill was a talented sportsman. He lettered in basketball at Kennedy Colligate, joined the Cadets and raced a hand-built sailboat at Rondeau Park when in his teens. As an adult he moved to power boats exploring lakes in Canada, as well as the ocean and Intercostal throughout the southern States. He also played on champion curling teams and golfed his entire life eventually shooting 85 on his 87th birthday and 89 for 18 holes when he was 92 at Beach Grove CC.

In addition to being philanthropic, he was a devoted husband to his wife Linda Spencer, with whom they shared 68 years of marriage, and beloved father to their four children Constance Spencer, Lori Fisher, Greg Spencer and Sandi Spencer and their spouses/partners, Walter Fisher, Sheri Spencer and Cory Goudreau.

He was also grandfather to Deidre Haig (Sebastian), Mark Jeffrey (Jen), Alexa Jeffrey (Josh), Luke Jeffrey (Cina), Briggs Fisher, Anthony Reimneitz (Monica), Kayla Shepley (Tyler), Lauren Spencer, Matthew Spencer, Bret Riesberry (Alexis) and Hunter Quenneville (Nathan) as well as great-grandfather to Avery Shepley, Ryder Jeffrey, Adi Jeffrey and Cooper Quenneville. Also, the family is extremely grateful to those generous caregivers including Sandi, Cory, Lynn, Rachelle, Crystal, and Comfort who made his last years more enjoyable.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Bill on Thursday August 29th at 2pm-5pm and 7pm-9pm at the Windsor Chapel Funeral Home (Banwell Chapel) at 11677 Tecumseh Road, Windsor and church services on Friday August 30th at 10am at St. Mark’s by the Lake, at 150 St. Mark’s Road, Tecumseh, Ontario. Donations instead of flowers can be made to the Windsor Regional Hospital. Online condolences and cherished memories may be shared at windsorchapel.com