Robert Edward Spence's Obituary
Robert Edward Spence, 81, passed away on August 4, 2023, in Sacramento, California.
He was born on January 31, 1942, in Orosi, California to Nellie Pearl Merriott and Robert Bernard Spence. His parents divorced when he was a baby and his mom married Marvin K. Epps who raised Bobby as his own. He had one brother, Marshall who was 5 years younger.
Robert grew up in the Arden area of Sacramento and attended Norte Del Rio High School. When he was 20 years old, he joined the United States Navy and served during the Vietnam war. He loved to talk about how he taught english to kids in Okinawa, Japan. He was honorably discharged, and he earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He worked for the Federal Government for over 40 years as an aeronautic instrument specialist. He was married to Barbara Roberts for 29 years and they raised their three children in North Highlands, CA. He finished his work life in Pennsylvania and after he retired spent some time in Arizona before moving back to California in 2007 to be near his family.
Bob knew the Lord as his Savior from a young age and raised his family in church. And though he wandered away for a while, he got involved serving in Red Bluff and Redlands after coming home to California. He loved his family and especially loved being a grandpa. In 1988 when his first grandchildren were born, you could often find him with a giant VHS video recorder over his shoulder filming their antics. He was a loving man and would be there for you if you needed anything. He loved to go camping and fishing with his dad and brother, was a SF 49er fan, and when he could, he enjoyed going to his grandkids sporting events. Bob was a handy person and thought a roll of duct tape could fix anything. As he got older, he enjoyed attending family get togethers, such as dinners, birthdays and weddings.
He was a wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be missed greatly but we know we shall see him again.
Robert is survived by his children Sharnell Chambers and husband Tim, Monica Hopelian and husband Joe, Robert K. Spence and wife Venessa, step-son Jim Holcrow and wife Brittany; his grandchildren Brandon Chambers and wife Mary, Bradley Chambers and wife Rachel, Adam Chambers and girlfriend Berenice, Chelsey West and husband Kyle, Samantha Prosser and husband James, Haley Katt and boyfriend Jacob, Justin Hopelian and wife Victoria, Hunter Vaughn-Spence, and Cameron Vaughn-Spence; great-grandchildren William Chambers, Jonathan Chambers, Jaxon Chambers and Adaline Prosser.
He was preceded in death by his parents Marvin and Pearl and his brother Marshall.
As Bob often said “See ya next year!”
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