Millard Spencer M.D.

Dr. Millard C. Spencer died Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at Susanna Wesley Center, Epworth Villa, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, after a long struggle with pulmonary hypertension. Dr. Spencer was born in Lost Springs, Kansas, on June 26, 1928. He was the second son of Edna Hemenway Spencer and Edward D. Spencer. Dr. Spencer attended the University of Kansas where he earned his BS, MS, and MD degrees. He practiced medicine in Wichita, Kansas, until he entered military service. He was stationed in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, for two years where he was in charge of the Army Hospital. After returning from Germany he joined a medical-surgical practice in Liberal, Kansas, practicing there for seven years. Dr. Spencer left Liberal and went to Denver, Colorado, where he completed a residency in Radiology. He then moved to Topeka, Kansas, to join the Radiology and Nuclear Medicine group there. Dr. Spencer was the first physician to introduce Interventional Radiology in the state of Kansas. Dr. Spencer held many offices in the Kansas State Medical Association and was chief of staff at Stormont-Vail Hospital. He was elected to the American College of Radiology in 1981 and held the position of Vice-President. Dr. Spencer retired from medical practice in 1993. Mill married his dearest love, Polly Quattlebaum, on December 15, 1967. Together they raised their combined five children. Their daughter Deborah Spencer (Susan Davis) owns Water’s Edge in Lawrence, Kansas. Son Steve Spencer of Grand Lake, Colorado, owns a construction company. Daughter Marsha Sousa is Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, Alaska. Son Steve Crowder (Sarah) of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, is a project controls manager at Alliance Technologies Corporation. Daughter Marilyn Morris (Craig) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is the manager of a public relations firm. While in Topeka, Mill purchased an airplane, a Bonanza, and renewed his pilot’s license. He and Polly enjoyed flying to various meetings, vacations, and visits with family. Mill was also very active at Grace Cathedral where he served on the Vestry. An avid skier since his days in Germany, Mill enjoyed many years of skiing in Colorado, especially at Snowmass where the family had a vacation home. After retirement, Mill and Polly moved to Skidaway Island, Georgia, across the Intercoastal Waterway from Savannah. They built a home on a canal where they caught blue crabs, fished for red fish, golfed the many courses on the island, and enjoyed motoring their boat in the inland waterways. While there, Dr. Spencer taught interventional radiology to residents at Mercer Medical School. He also completed four years of study to become a Deacon in the Episcopal Church. He was a Chalicist and lay reader. After eight years on Skidaway Island they moved to Glassy Mountain, north of Greenville, South Carolina, and enjoyed five wonderful years there. Mill and Polly returned to their Jayhawk roots in 2006, settling in Lawrence. Dr. Spencer was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, E. David Spencer. He is survived by his wife, Polly Spencer of Oklahoma City, his 5 children, his grandchildren, Keane Crowder, Shelby Spencer, Connor Spencer, Austin Sousa, Emily Sousa, Katie Delvaux (Matt), Riley Morris, Kelsie Morris, Cooper Morris, Micah Bacon, Beth Bacon, Suzy Sapra (Sonney), Jessica McMahan, and four great grandchildren; and by his four nieces and their families in Colorado. He also leaves behind wonderful colleagues and the many dear friends that he and Polly have made in their travels these last 44 years. Memorial services for Dr. Spencer will be held on March 17 at 2 pm, at Grace Episcopal Cathedral in Topeka, Kansas. A reception at the Topeka Country Club will follow the service. Contributions in memory of Dr. Spencer can be given to University of Kansas Medical School (KU Endowments, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160), St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church (14700 North May Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73134), or Grace Cathedral (701 SW 8th Ave, Topeka, KS, 66603). To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Millard Spencer M.D. please visit our Sympathy Store.