Diane Spencer

Diane was a proud Greek. She was born December 28, 1932 in Los Angeles, California to Pierre and Marie de Vrahnos. Her maternal grandparents immigrated from Greece to San Francisco where her grandfather opened the Los Angeles Candy Factory. Her father immigrated from Greece to Chicago and worked in the meat industry. He became a chef at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City and eventually moved to California where he opened the Wisteria Restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. Diane’s parents wanted to open a restaurant in San Marino, but Greeks were not welcome there so he changed his name to Pierre de Vrahnos, moved there, and opened a French restaurant called Pierre’s.

Diane grew up in San Marino, a suburb of Pasadena, and spent much time working with her sister, Eleana, at the restaurant. She became an excellent cook. During WWII, Pierre used his meat industry contacts to obtain and serve top-quality beef despite meat rationing. This made the restaurant extremely popular throughout the Southern California area. The family has many pictures of celebrities and dignitaries who dined at Pierre’s over the years.

Diane attended Scripps College in Claremont, CA. While at Scripps, Diane was close friends with Shirley Spencer from Oklahoma City. One day Shirley was walking with her brother, Jack Spencer, on the steps of Grace Scripps Hall when Diane walked by. Jack prodded his sister for an introduction and it was love at first sight.

Jack and Diane dated while he was a resident at USC/Los Angeles County Hospital. Diane went on to receive her MA in psychology from Occidental College in Los Angeles. It was highly unusual for women to obtain graduate degrees or work as professionals in those days, but Diane did and went to work as a child psychologist.

Jack became an orthopedic surgeon and a Captain in the Air Force. In 1955, they married, and moved to MacDill Air Force base in Florida and later to Jack’s hometown of Oklahoma City. They moved to Edmond, OK in 1976 and have resided there ever since. They enjoyed a marriage that lasted 62 years.

Diane spent her life helping people. She became a civil rights advocate in the 1960s and later, through her passion and healing prayer ministry, she counseled and impacted hundreds if not thousands of people, their marriages and families, and multiple other ministries over a span of 52 years. Diane’s life was a true picture of how one person can deeply affect the lives of so many others. She practiced what she preached in that she was open, vulnerable, soft and winsome. She was a selfless and gracious individual totally committed to helping others.

She adored her husband, Jack, and always put him first. Jack always put her first in his life as well. She loved her family dearly and her grandchildren were one of the greatest delights of her life. She prayed about everything, waited on the Lord, and listened to what He said before she acted. We know of no better example of what it looks like to love people, and to love Jesus with all one’s heart, than Diane.

Diane is survived by her husband Jack, her three sons, Mark David Spencer of Edmond, OK, Steven David Spencer of Kansas City, MO and Charles David Spencer of Edmond, OK, her six grandchildren AnnaMarie Glenda Jewell Spencer, Noah Jonathon Spencer, Cory Dunavan Spencer, Albert Jack David Spencer, Sheridan Renae Spencer and Sophie Renae Spencer, her daughters-in-law Jeanette Spencer, Michele Spencer and Traci Spencer, her nieces and nephews Tanya Marie Pemberton of Fairfax, VA., Tina Diana Fletcher of Concord, CA, William McDowell Blaik, Jr. of Oklahoma City, Catherine (Katie) Spencer James of Oklahoma City, and her sister-in-law, Shirley Ann (Spencer) Blaik of Nichols Hills, OK. She is predeceased by her father, Constantine Demetrios (Pierre) de Vrahnos, her mother, Marie Antoinette (Julius) de Vrahnos, her sister, Eleana Marie (de Vrahnos) Peratis, and her brothers-in-law, Paul Spiro Peratis and William McDowell Blaik.

The funeral service will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, April 9 at Bridgeway Church located at 10701 Broadway Extension in Oklahoma City.