Dr. Ray Spence was born in Garvin County outside of Paoli on January 25, 1922. He was the eighth of eight children. He passed away on October 12, 2009.
He attended college at East Central in Ada and medical school at Oklahoma University. He served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II.
After the war, he moved to Maysville then on to Pauls Valley where he practiced medicine for 40 years. He estimated delivering over 1,500 Garvin County children, and at one point claimed to know everyone in Pauls Valley and how they were related.
Dr. Spence was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pauls Valley where he served as a Sunday School teacher. The most important things he taught others about life were to work hard and to help others and treat them all like friends.
Those of you know him, remember him in many ways - some as family, some as doctor, some as domino and card player, and some as golfing buddy.
He was always a country boy who grew up to be an unassuming country gentleman. Pauls Valley missed him on his retirement, and now he will be missed by all of us he leaves behind.
Dr. Spence is preceded in death by his wife, Gladys and one son, Daryl; three brothers: Horace (Buster), Kennard Maxie and Jack Deward Spence; and four sisters: Alma Dennis, Alva Sallie Shirley, Audie Pruitt and Eula Belle (Tiny) Beams.
Dr. Spence is survived by his son: Dean Spence and his wife, Cheryl of Oklahoma City; daughter: Mary Elkins and her husband, Gordon of Tucson, Arizona; daughter-in-law: Daryl’s wife, Melinda; 5 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Dr. Ray Spence of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma are scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the Wooster Funeral Home Chapel in Pauls Valley with Dr. Joe Elam officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Pauls Valley.
Services are under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home. You may send a condolence to the family at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com.
