Aug. 30, 1931 – May 26, 2023
Sallisaw – Funeral services for Frank Robert “Buddy” Spencer, 91, of Sallisaw, were at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 5, 2023, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Sallisaw.
Burial was at 1 p.m. at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Ark., under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, Inc.
Mr. Spencer was born Aug. 30, 1931, in Barling, Ark., to Benjamin Spencer and Madeline Alverson Spencer. He died on Friday, May 26, 2023, in Tulsa.
He was a 1949 graduate of Cameron High School and attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, earning ha Bachelor of Science in History Education.
He served in the U.S. Marine Corp and was a Korean War veteran, honorably discharged in 1956 at the rank of Captain.
He maintained a long and successful career in the automobile business, spanning over 50 years. The Spencer family currently owns and operates Blue Ribbon Auto Group in Sallisaw.
He served as President of the Chamber of Commerce in Sallisaw and the Sallisaw Improvement Corporation; and became President of the Oklahoma State School Board Association in 1981-82. He was also a recipient of the Oklahoma Education Association’s Award for Excellence.
He was a longtime member and was serving as an Executive Trustee for the Carl Albert State College (CASC) Foundation, and Chairman of the Committee for Excellence in Sallisaw. He was inducted into the CASC Hall of Fame in 2008-09, and into the Oklahoma State Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2022.
He is survived by his wife, Doris, of 69 years; daughters, Lisa Berry (Rob) of Tulsa and Lori Irvin of Houston, Texas; sons, Robert Spencer (Stephanie) and Dwight Spencer (Cherie), both of Sallisaw; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Anita Ashley (Chuck) of Oklahoma City; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ben H. Spencer and Jimmie D. Spencer; and one sister, Rosemary Spencer Vikander.
Pallbearers were Colton Spencer, Grant Spencer, Culley Barragan, Riley Cummins, Daniel Maechler and Bubba Spencer.
Honorary pallbearers were the Blue Ribbon Auto Group Family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Carl Albert State College – CASC Development Foundation, 1507 South McKenna, Poteau, OK 74953 or Bloomer Sullivan & Buddy Spencer Scholarship, Southeastern Foundation, Inc., 425 W. University Blvd., Durant, OK 74701.
