Obituary of William G. Spencer

William Gilbert Spencer, 89, of Poplar Hill Drive, Boone, died Monday, August 30, 2010 at home. Born June 22, 1921 in La Grande, Oregon, he was the son of the late Guy William Spencer and Anna Lorene Smith Spencer. Dr. Spencer was a Professor Emeritus of Music at Appalachian State University. He received his bachelor of music degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL in 1943 and then enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He served in the 4th Fighter Group as a P-51 pilot, flying 22 combat missions out of Debden, England. He later earned M.A. and Ed.D degrees from Teachers College at Columbia University, New York, NY. Dr. Spencer began his career with Appalachian in 1951, directing the marching band and stage band and teaching courses in woodwinds, instrument repair and music education. He chaired the Department of Music from 1958 to 1972 and was one of the founders of Cannon Music Camp. He initiated the guitar program at ASU in conjunction with the Ford Foundation and taught bassoon, woodwinds, theory, conducting, history and construction of the piano and guitar classes. In 1978 he developed and directed the first Appalachian Dulcimer Workshop and Old Tyme Music Concert on the campus; the workshop continued for many years and attracted students from all over the country. While at Appalachian, Spencer served on the Faculty Senate, the Appalachian Studies Council, the Appalachian Consortium Task Force and numerous other committees. He served as chair of the building committee as ASU planned for the move into the Broyhill Music Center and played bassoon professionally in a number of community and professional orchestras including the Blue Ridge Community Theatre and the North Carolina Symphony. Spencer was a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, the Music Educators National Conference, the International Double Reed Society, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. On February 20, 2010 he was inducted into the Band Directors Hall of Fame by the NC Bandmasters Association. He was also quite active in the Boone community, having been a member of First Presbyterian Church of Boone for over 50 years where he was a long time choir member, former choir director, former elder and past chair of the Board of Deacons. He was also active in the Watauga Community Band for many years, as well as a past president of the Civitans and a past member of the Lion's Club. After retiring in 1986 he was able to pursue his interests in other areas, such as woodworking, traveling and fishing and he became quite active in the Association of the Fourth Fighter Group of WWII. He continued to enjoy making music as often as possible. Surviving are his wife, Sarah Lynn Rives Blair Spencer of Boone, two sons, Palmer Sligh Blair, Jr and wife Linda Fields Blair of Greensboro, NC, William Gilbert Spencer, Jr of Raleigh, NC, four daughters, Patricia Susan Spencer Cooke and husband John Edgar Cooke of Boone, NC, Sharon Rousseau Blair Tolbert and husband Byron Leslie Tolbert of Lenoir, NC, Susan Rebecca Blair and husband James Edmond Lawrence of Houston, TX and Anna Margaret Spencer Taylor and husband, James Edward Taylor of Banner Elk, NC, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral services for William Gilbert Spencer will be conducted Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 4:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Boone. Officiating will be the Rev. Dr. Ron Bowie and Dr. David Long. Military graveside services and burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens in Boone. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, September 1 from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm at home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to High Country Health Care Systems Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, NC 28607 or to Grandfather Home for Children, PO Box 98, Banner Elk, NC 28604. Online condolences may be sent to the Spencer Family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Spencer Family.