David Eugene Spencer 

(September 15, 1932 - January 7, 2020)

 

The son of Frank Clifford and Agnes May Hoard Spencer, Dave and younger brother Don were raised in Manhattan Beach, California. Dave graduated with scholastic honors from El Segundo High School in 1950. Growing up in Manhattan Beach included hours on the beach, surfing, fishing, volleyball and basketball.  After high school Dave attended Harvard, later transferring to Stanford and graduating in 1954. 

The greatest event in Dave’s life happened in October 1953, when he met Gloria Beck on a blind date at the Stanford/UCLA football game.  Though the US Army interrupted this love affair, sending Dave to Germany from 1954-1956, he nevertheless begged Gloria to marry him in Germany. She finally conceded on her birthday, Valentine’s Day 1956. They honeymooned all over Europe in Dave’s VW with his salary of $80.00 per week. Upon his discharge from the Army they honeymooned across the United States. The GI Bill funded Dave’s Teaching Credential and a master’s degree in Education and Mathematics from USC. He then taught at two Los Angeles high schools while he and Gloria started a family in Woodland Hills. Gloria gave birth to daughters Lisa and two years later, Pamela, and the family began a life together in Hidden Hills. Dave left teaching and transitioned to engineering with a focus on aerospace and the military. He worked briefly for North American Rocketdyne, then enjoyed a 23-year career with Hughes Aircraft Missile Systems Division in Canoga Park. After retiring, he consulted with the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica. He was also a Fellow, then the President, from 1977-1978 of the Military Operations Research Society.  Dave was always an athlete. He learned to downhill ski at age 70, because so many of his friends did, and he was “missing out.” He also continued his lifelong passions for fishing, tennis and music.

 

David loved his family, Gloria’s cooking, bridge, Mexican food and margaritas, boating on the lake, jigsaw puzzles during a snowstorm, watching football and baseball (the Dodgers and Angels). He also enjoyed designing his custom-built homes, sharing conversation with everyday people, mathematics, science, mentoring, geography, history, and world news.


Gloria Spencer

(February 14, 1934 – February 20, 2020)

 

Gloria Mervane Spencer was born and raised in Los Angeles, the only child of George and Mervane Beck. As a young girl she enjoyed cooking and baking with her mother, and spending time with her neighbors and girlfriends, some of whom she remained close to for a lifetime. She is remembered as a loyal friend that could always be counted on. She enjoyed dancing and loved music. She had a flair for style at a young age. After high school she continued her education at UCLA, receiving a BA in Education, and serendipitously meeting her future husband Dave. Gloria began teaching second grade before giving birth to daughters. Dave taught high school Mathematics and was an Athletic Director.

 

As the young married couple became a family, Gloria and Dave moved to Hidden Hills where they raised their two daughters, Lisa and Pamela.  Gloria enjoyed being involved in the lives of her daughters through sewing their childhood clothes, Girl Scouts, Job’s Daughters, and their school activities. In their early years, she loved designing family-created Christmas cards, camping as a family, traveling, and enjoying adventures with her daughters and Dave. She always had a love for cooking and baking and opened their home for events or gatherings. Gloria created an atmosphere of style, color and comfort in their home. She also loved antique shopping and reveled in finds steeped in history and character. And when it came to entertaining in her home, Gloria was the consummate hostess. She enjoyed the preparation of every detail as much as the presentation, which was always impeccable.  She was the hostess extraordinaire at picnics, Christmas dinners, retirement parties and countless other gatherings, many of them taking place in their home. Her elegance and joie de vivre were storied sensations. Gloria’s spectacular entertaining continued throughout the years in their homes in Hidden Hills, Mammoth Lakes and later in Westlake Village. Her efforts united their different circle of friends and created the opportunity for lifelong friendships. Dave and Gloria really enjoyed sing-a-longs in their home.

 

Together Always

 

Dave and Gloria were married for almost 64 years and spent much of their time and efforts together. Both were deeply patriotic and supported affiliations such as the Young Americans. Gloria also served on the Assistance League of Los Angeles, Hilltoppers, and Young Life. She was active in their neighborhood church in Stephen’s Ministry, and served in various ways in her church and neighborhood communities. Dave served as an elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church, and was on the New West Symphony’s Board of Directors.

 

They loved traveling and taking jazz cruises, and visited many countries during their lifetime.  They enjoyed music at any time of the day, and were supporters of Dixieland bands, several community symphonies in Mammoth and the Conejo Valley, and loved musicals and classical music. 

 

In their day to day life, they also enjoyed many happy years with their dogs, Heidi, Schatzi and Molly.

 

They were blessed to have so much time together, to travel and to enjoy life together.  And though their last years were rife with health troubles, they held each other close and supported each other in hope and prayer.

 

They are no doubt dancing together in eternity.