Richard Lee Spence

RICHARD SPENCE was born on August 17, 1942, in Baltimore, MD to the late Helen Fleming (Marshall) and the late Jerome Spence. Richard left this life on December 5, 2022. He was raised by his grandmother, Mrs. Elsie Spence in the Saratoga St. Poe Homes. Richard attended Baltimore public schools. Fannie L. Barbara (161), Booker T. Washington (130), and Douglass High School where he graduated in June 1960. After high school he went to work at Hutzler’s Department Store. Later he joined the Army where he served in Korea until 1965. After he was discharged he went to work for Bethlehem Steel. Richard worked there for over 30 years and then retired. On December 8, 1967, he married Rosemarie Jones, who was also raised in the Poe Homes. She met Richard when she was six years old and he was twelve. He accidentally ran into her with his bicycle. She never forgot it. From their union, they had two sons, Steven and Carlos. Richard and Rosemarie stayed married for what would have been 55 years as of December 8, 2022. She at 74 and he at 80 years old. Richard enjoyed reading his bible and watching ministries on the television. It amazed him that the TV ministries sometimes would be preaching on the same passages that he was reading. Richard loved going to different places by bus, train and car; especially on cruise ships. He really like cruising on the Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean, etc. His favorite places to visit were Foxwood, CT, Cove Haven, PA, Bermuda, The Bahamas, Charleston, West Virginia, and Horseshoe, Baltimore. He was an avid Pinochle, Spades, and Poker player. Richard was diagnosed with prostate cancer more than 20 years ago. This cancer was considered a very slow moving cancer, therefore, he decided not to receive treatment. Later, he was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. He became ill while he was away at Foxwood, CT. When he arrived homefrom Foxwood, Richard became worse and had to be rushed to the hospital by ambulance. He was placed in ICU with a very bad infection. For the last three years he was in and out of the hospital for one thing or another. Later, the doctors discovered that the cancer started to spread to his legs, spine and pelvis. He could not walk, stand, or sit up. In November he was admitted to the hospital and stayed for 3 weeks. He was released to come home on December 3, 2022. He suddenly passed away on December 5, 2022, three days before his and Rosemarie’s 55th wedding anniversary. His wife, Rosemarie, was with him when he took his last breath. Richard leaves to mourn: his wife, Rosemarie; two sons, Steven (Melissa) and Carlos (Tina); brothers, Montrell Spence (Patricia) and Raymond Spence; sister, Geri Spence (Queen); grandchildren, Carlos Jr., Carlaya, Skylar, Joshua, Ericka; and host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, buddies and friends. He is preceded in death by siblings Karl Marshall, William Spence, Gail Marshall (McLeod) and Leonora Spence

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Richard Lee Spence

August 17, 1942 - December 5, 2022