Don Spence

(From Nichols Funeral Home)

Donald T. Spence, age 83, of Grove, OK passed away on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, in Joplin, MO.

Don was born on May 17, 1934, to Everett and Virginia (Todd) Spence in Branson, Missouri. He served in the U.S. Air Force at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota.

He had a variety of jobs in many places throughout his life. He was a farmhand taking care of dairy cows, an equipment operator building dams and county roads in Wall, South Dakota.

 In Custer, South Dakota he loaded sand into railroad cars. He managed a Turkey farm in Marcus Iowa and he was a security guard at Megan Coves when he moved to Grove with his wife, Judy and son Shane in 1983.

Some of his pastimes included playing guitar and singing with JD Blackmore in the bands “Stetson” and “Delaware County Cornhuskers”. They played different kinds of music, but his favorite was gospel. Don was very good with his hands and loved building things, from baby cribs to sheds. He also enjoyed the leather working that he had recently started doing, some of you may have a purse or billfold that he made. Don also enjoyed fishing and swing dancing with his companion, Beth.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Judy Spence, sister, Susan Johnson, and grandsons, Blake Cool and Curtis Spence.

Left to cherish his memory, longtime companion, Beth Walton of Grove, children: Donnie (Mindy) Spence of Grove, Roxann (Brad) Cool of El Dorado, KS, Lance (Virginia) Spence of Clarksville, AR, Kim (Greg) Worley of Harrisonville, MO and Shane (Jessica) Spence of Seneca, MO, 8 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, 6 nephews and many great nieces and nephews.

Visitation will at 10am Monday, December 12, 2022, followed by funeral services at 11am, both at Nichols-Stephens Funeral Services. Burial will be at Hickory Grove Cemetery.

Donations may be made to Tunnel to Towers Veteran Housing in Don’s Memory at Tunnel to Towers Foundation (t2t.org).

Arrangements entrusted to Nichols-Stephens Funeral and Cremation Services.