Kenneth Lee Spence

Kenneth was born Mar 3, 1972 in Muncie, Indiana to Terry and Jacqueline Spence. He started school in the Philippines and graduated from John Marshall High School in San Antonio, TX. After high school he received a scholarship from the Navy to attend the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio where he graduated in May of 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He was commissioned as an Ensign into the United States Naval Nursing Corps.

One week after his college graduation, he married Debra Quezada of San Antonio, Texas. Together they began their 21 year journey with the Navy. After his first duty assignment in Jacksonville, Florida, Kenneth was selected to attend the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, where he received his Master’s Degree in Nursing and certification in Nursing Anesthesia. His next assignment was to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina followed by Debra and Kenneth’s favorite assignment, Sigonella, Sicily. His final assignment was Portsmouth, Virginia where he retired as a Commander from the Navy Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia in 2013.

During his career, he had numerous deployments in support of the War on Terrorism and Humanitarian Disaster Relief. Kenneth received numerous medals, ribbons and badges, including six Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbons, two National Defense Service Medals, a Humanitarian Service Medal, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Navy Pistol Sharpshooter Ribbon. During his 2006 tour as the sole Nurse Anesthetist onboard the USS George Washington, he was awarded his Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer Designation.

Upon his military retirement, he happily accepted a position with Baylor Scott White in College Station as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Kenneth and Debra loved getting back to Texas. Kenneth later assumed the position as the Chief Nurse Anesthetist.

Kenneth was a parishioner at St. Thomas Aquila’s Catholic Church, a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and the College Station cycling club.

Kenneth will be remembered by so many as a good man who loved life, loved traveling, loved eating new foods, and especially spending time with his wife Debra and beloved daughter Isabella. Whenever he got the chance, he loved biking and he participated in numerous bike races throughout the country riding over 8000 miles last year.

Kenneth is survived by his wife Debra, daughter Isabella, parents Terry (Capt. USAF Ret.), Jacqueline (Master Sgt. USAF Ret.) of Bonners Ferry, ID and his twin brother Captain Dennis Spence, United States Navy Nurse Corps.

A Rosary service will be held, at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, in San Antonio, Texas, Tuesday, January 22nd at 7pm.

A Mass in Kenneth’s honor will be held on Wednesday January 23rd at 11:30 a.m. at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, in San Antonio, Texas.

Kenneth will be laid to rest at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m with military honors.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be sent in Kenneth’s honor to Team Kainer. (https://www.teamkainer.org/)