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Rev. Elzie 'Boodge' Spencer

Rev. Elzie “Boodge” Spencer, 90, of Huntington, IN, died Sunday, July 26, 2015, at 1:55 p.m. at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne.

Rev. Spencer was a sergeant in the United States Army during World War II, serving with the railroad unit in the Philippine Theater and earning a Bronze Star. He participated in the Honor Flight program to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, in October of 2013. He retired from the Kmart Distribution Center, in Fort Wayne, where he had worked from 1950 to 1987.

He was the bishop and founder of Gospel Community Church on Grayston Avenue, in Huntington, where he ministered to the community for more than 45 years. He was later a member of Gethsemane Ministries, in Huntington, serving as a board member and vice president of the church board.

He was born June 10, 1925, in Campton, KY, to Armstrong “Strong” and Alice S. Cable Spencer. He married Opal M. Cole on Nov. 1, 1947, in Hazard, KY, and she preceded him in death on Nov. 28, 2005.

Survivors include four sons, David (Ellen) Spencer, of Huntington; Wayne (Virgie) Spencer, of Andrews; Earl (Deborah) Spencer, of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; and Tom Spencer, of Fort Wayne; three daughters, Shirley Elston, Glenda Sue (David) Stamper and Marsha Kay Tackett, all of Huntington; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Calling is Wednesday, July 29, 2015, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bailey-Love Mortuary, Huntington. A service will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2015, at 11 a.m., with calling one hour prior to the service, at Gethsemane Ministries, 2239 Hartman St., Huntington. Rev. Worlie Newsome and Rev. Mark Hoffer will officiate. Burial will be at Markle Cemetery, with military rites conducted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2689, of Huntington.

Memorial gifts may be made to Gethsemane Ministries in care of Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 W. Park Drive, Huntington, IN 46750. To sign the online guest book, visit www.baileylove.com.