John Spence (1951)

SPENCE, THOMSON, ADDY, BEEM

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart
Date: 2/11/2006 at 11:04:13

JOHN SPENCE Died Thursday

Winterset Madisonian
April 18, 1951

John Spence, rural mail carrier at Winterset, since 1921, died at the Madison County Memorial hospital here Thursday, April 12, 1951. He was 60 years of age.

Mr. Spence's death resulted from a heart ailment. He had been off duty from his mail route since Feb. 17, and had been a patient at the Memorial hospital since April 5. He had appeared to be improving and was planning to leave the hospital Thursday when stricken by a fatal heart attack.

Mr. Spence was a life-long resident of Madison County. He was born in Douglas township March 15, 1891, a son of Samuel and Frances Thomson Spence. His mother died when he was 4 years old.

He attended school at Stringtown and high school in Winterset, graduating with the class of 1911. As a young man he taught in the rural schools of Madison County. In 1921 he was appointed carrier on Rural Route 1 from the Winterset postoffice, serving on that route for 26 years, before being transferred to Route 2.

He was married Dec. 24, 1914, to Gertrude Addy. They were the parents of three children, all of whom, together with Mrs. Spence, survive. The children are Josephine Spence of Winterset, Mrs. Frances Beem of Shenandoah and Wallace Spence of Fort Madison. He also leaves four grandchildren.

Mr. Spence was a long time member of the United Presbyterian church, and was active in its affairs. He had served as trustee and church treasurer, and was a ruling elder at the time of his death.

Funeral services were held Sunday from the United Presbyterian church, in charge of the Revs. S. C. Picken and W. A. Muir. Burial was made in the Winterset Cemetery.

Gravesite
 

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