Ned was born in Oklahoma City, son of Bruce G. Spence and Nell Hickman, and spent his childhood years in Enid, Oklahoma, before returning to Oklahoma City. He graduated from Classen High School in 1953, where he excelled in athletics, both in track and field and on the varsity football team. He attended the University of Oklahoma before fulfilling his lifetime goal by joining the Marine Corps in 1956 and served as a sergeant at Camp Pendleton in San Clemente, California, where he was certified as an expert marksman. After his service, he returned to Oklahoma and graduated from Oklahoma City University with a degree in engineering. Ned began his career at Anaconda Wire and Cable, later working as a safety engineer for various insurance companies, successively living in Kansas City, Harrisonville, Missouri and Athens, Georgia, before returning to Oklahoma City in 1974. Ned was an avid hunter and fisherman, enjoying hunting and camping as well as fly fishing. He was a Civil War historian who visited many Civil War battlefields and historical sites. One of his proudest accomplishments was receiving a pilot’s license, and for a time, owned his own airplane. In 1955, he married Sandra Sue Moyer of Moyers, Oklahoma, with whom he had three children. In 1986 he married Karolene (Kay) McMinimy and remained married to her until her death in 2013. Ned is survived by his children Russell Spence, Lori Tiffee and Diane Inman, as well as 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
A visitation for Ned will be held Wednesday, July 13, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 8701 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73162. A celebration of life with Military Honors will be Thursday, July 14, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Chapel Hill Funeral Home.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelhill-okc.com for the Spence family.
SHARE OBITUARYSHARE
v.1.13.0