Allan J Spence Sr.

LEXINGTON - Allan Johnson Spence, Sr., husband of Kathryn “Kitty” Corley Spence, passed away at home on January 24, 2015. Service will take place at Lexington United Methodist Church on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. followed by burial with military honors at Woodridge Memorial Park in Lexington. The family will receive friends on Monday, January 26, 2015 from 6:00 p.m.to 8:00 p.m. at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel.

Born February 1, 1930 in West Columbia, South Carolina, he was the son of the late James W. Spence and the late Addie Lucas Spence. He attended Lexington High School and was inducted into the Lexington High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 for playing football and basketball. He attended USC on a football scholarship, playing fullback for the Gamecocks. Upon graduation he entered the U.S. Marine Corps serving in the Vietnam War, and continued serving proudly for 20 years. He received the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and US Army and Navy Commendation Medals, retiring as a Lt. Colonel after serving as Commander of the Marine Corps detachment at the Charleston (SC) Naval Base. Upon retiring from the Marine Corps, he was appointed Director of Motor Vehicle Management for the State of South Carolina by Governor James Edwards in 1975. He served with distinction as Director for 20 years, being recognized for his service by being elected Chairman of the Law Enforcement Group of the National Association of Fleet Administrators from 1987 – 1991. He was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in 1994.

He is survived by his wife, Kitty of Lexington; sons, Allan, Jr., (Lou), Michael (Margaret), Jimmy (Natalie) and Russell (Tracy). They were blessed with 11 grandchildren and 1 great- grandchild, Sean (Brooke), Kathryn, Nelson, Sophie, Will, Caleb, Gray, Rebecca, Julianne, Jackson, Dakota and Camden Allan; sister, Anna Spence Clement and numerous nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by parents, James and Addie Spence; brother, Congressman Floyd Spence; step-brother, Robert O. Stevenson and step-sister, Juanita Stevenson Smith.

The family gives special thanks to Rhoda Hann, Ann Baugh and the host of medical professionals for their gracious help to him, his wife, Kitty and his family during his last years.

Memorials may be made to Lexington United Methodist Church, 309 E. Main St., Lexington, SC 29072

or the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 www.woundedwarriorproject.org.