Ronald J. Spencer

Ronald J. Spencer from Tulsa, Oklahoma was born February 20, 1938 in Konawa, Oklahoma to John Hampton and Edith (Plasschaert) Spencer. He was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Konawa and was an active member along with his mother, father, and sister. He passed away on Friday, April 9, 2010, at Clarehouse Hospice in Tulsa at the age of 72.  Ron is survived by his wife of 50 years, Durla (Hensley) Spencer: son, Jeffrey A. Spencer of Konawa; daughter, Heather Taylor and her husband Todd Taylor of Ft. Worth, TX; son, Bryan Spencer and his wife, Jewels of Tulsa; grandchildren, Cooper Taylor, Riley Taylor, Parker Taylor and Hunter Spencer; and sister, Julia Ann Prado of California. Ron entered Oklahoma University in 1959 where he received his Chemical Engineering degree in 1963. He remained a loyal Sooner fan all of his life, even when his children decided to attend OSU. After graduation, Ron went to work for the Trane Company and spent the first two years working in Texas. He missed Oklahoma so much that he asked for a transfer and was reassigned to the Tulsa office, where he became part owner of the office in 1981. When the Trane franchise was dissolved in 1986, Ron continued to serve the Tulsa community by starting Optimum Systems and Service. His expertise in the field of refrigeration and air conditioning was widely recognized by his peers in the engineering and HVAC contracting industry. Ron was an active member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). He served in many leadership positions in the local ASHRAE Chapter as well as on a regional level, receiving the Region VIII Regional Award of Merit for his service to the industry. Ron was devoted to his love for photography, computers, shooting and his ability to reminisce and tell stories about his life.  While Ron built his life and his business, he never forgot his roots. He loved shooting pistols, doing photography, and he loved talking to people.  He loved his family and friends from his youth and made frequent trips back to the farm in Konawa that he loved dearly, to refresh his soul and reinforce the values that he carried with him throughout his life. A man of principle and faith, Ron was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and now rests securely in His presence.  The principles of Scripture provided the guiding light in his life.  Ron will be severely missed by all of those knew him and were fortunate enough to have had his presence in their lives. Daddy \PaPa, we love you and will miss you dearly, but you will always be very special in our hearts. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 15th at the First Baptist Church in Konawa, Oklahoma under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa.  Burial will follow at Vista Cemetery.  Rev. Bobby Allison, Pastor will officiate, and Rev. Darrell Stinnett will assist.  Pallbearers are Jeff Spencer, Bill Hanlon, Keith Brown, Todd Taylor, Kym Barger, and Rick Anglin.  Honorary Pallbearers are Bryan Spencer, Dale Phelps, Tony Lowry, Larry Johnson, Jan Campbell, Wayne Hodge, and Lawrence Hinman.  The family will receive guests on Wednesday evening from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Swearingen Funeral Home in Konawa. In lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made in Ron’s name to the ASHRAE Jack Tumilty Scholarship Fund, c/o Browne Consulting Engineers, P.O. Box 140538, Broken Arrow, OK 74014. Funeral Information: April 15, 2010, 11:00 AM First Baptist Church in Konawa under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa located at 217 N. Broadway, Konawa, OK 74849