Ernest (Eddie) W. Spencer devoted father, husband and World War II veteran passed away on Thursday, January 9 at the Highlands of Memphis Nursing Home of natural causes. He was born on July 25, 1920 in Detroit, MI. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years Juanita Newton Spencer. He is survived by his only son, James (Jimmy) H. Spencer and only sister Arline Pavlick of California, and many nephews and nieces.

Eddie, as all his friends and relatives called him, served in World War II in the Italy Theater. He was in the Fifth Army, 403rd Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion. His Battalion landed in North Africa and fought in Sicity and Italy. He was in all major Battles of that campaign; Anzio, Salerno, Palermo, Termini Imerese and Monte Cassino. He was in combat for 550 straight days when the war ended in May, 1945.

After the war ended, Eddie returned to his home in Detroit, MI and took a job at Mueller Brass in Port Huron, MI. He was introduced to his future wife, Juanita, by her Aunt, Alm Black Carr, the owner of the boarding house he was staying at. Eddie and Juanita were married in Forrest City, AR in March, 1946 and settled in Memphis.

He worked at Mills-Morris, an automotive machine shop for over 30 years and later took a job with O&A, Osborn and Abston Automotive machine shop. He retired for a short time and later went to work for Engine Power, a small engine repair company on Brooks Road. When that business closed down he worked part time at ACE Hardware at Summer Center for a number of years before finally retiring for good.

Eddie was an early member of Highland Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, becoming a deacon and then an elder, and also taught Sunday School classes to many of the young teenagers. He was truly greatly beloved by all of his kids. After the church closed he became a member at St. Stevens United Methodist Church and later at St. Luke's United Methodist Church.

Eddie was a craftsman building model airplanes and old sailing ships and took courses in learning taxidermy. Back in the 1970's and 1980's he taught taxidermy classes at night at the Memphis Board of Education on Avery.

Eddie had several stories written about him on his war service and teaching taxidermy in the Commercial Appeal through the years and appeared on WKNO Channel 10 many times in the past. He was a volunteer and a member of many organizations. He was a member of the Forever Young Senior Veterans Association, Volunteer of the year in 2018 at the Pink Palace Museum, and was Historian in Residence at Lausanne Collegiate School. When his health started to deteriorate, Peggy Reed at Lausanne School would pick him up every Tuesday and he would sit in his wheel chair in the hall and fellowship with all the students.

A visitation will be held at High Point Funeral Home Friday January 17, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a service to follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Saulsbury Cemetery in Saulsbury, TN.

He was truly greatly loved and will be deeply missed by all his friends and beloved son.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to Forever Young Senior Veterans (foreveryoungvets.org).