Thomas Patrick Spencer

Thomas Patrick Spencer, age101, passed away peacefully at St. Dominic Village on September 5, 2024, within six days of his admission due to a brief illness. Pat and his wife Rosemary shared 68 years of marriage before her passing in 2015. Pat is survived by his sister, Roberta Sage and several nieces and nephews who adored them.

Pat, as his friends and family knew him, was born in Karnes City, Texas on April 20, 1923, to Earl L. Spencer and Lilly Dincans. He graduated from Pasadena High School in 1940 and went to work at a pipeline fabricating company and then Hughes Tool Co. in the photostat department. He made copies for all new employees since there were no copiers at that time. Hughes Tool sent Pat to several schools, and ultimately became Superintendent of the Steel and Pipe yard where he retired at the age of 57. Pat was personally selected by Howard Hughes to be his personal assistant, however he did not accept for personal reasons.

He was inducted into the Army following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1942 and was honorably discharged in 1946 on his first tour of duty. He attained the rank of 1st Sargent of the 785th Tank Battalion C Company as tank commander and was stationed in Manila, Philippians for 18 months. In addition to his position as tank commander, he oversaw the prison camp for Japanese Officers and the rounding up of Japanese stragglers in the mountains that did not know the war was over. He would take a Japanese officer with him to explain that the war was over.

Pat served a second tour of duty from 1949-1951 in the Korean War as Master Sargent in the 785m Tank Battalion stationed in Fort Hood and Fort Polk. He trained the troops in tank firing and logistics.

Pat was a Catholic who celebrated mass at Queen of Peace where he was a Eucharistic Minister and avid reader at the masses. He and Rosemary were very active members of their church belonging to several organizations that helped the church. He was a big supporter of the Knights of Columbus where he was a member of the 3rd and 4th degree assembly of Bishop Charles P. Greco Assembly 1141 in Houston, Texas where he served as Grand Knight for several years. He and Rosemary were also supporters of Interfaith Charities and participated in many activities. Pat also loved going to casinos in Coushatta, Louisiana and Las Vegas and working in his yard.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Thursday, October 3, 2024, with a rosary at 7pm at the Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale Ave., Houston, Texas. Funeral Services will be at 10am on October 4, 2024, at Queen of Peace Catholic Church 3011 Telephone Rd, Houston, Texas followed by internment at Forest Park Lawndale.