Charles Wilson Spence

Charles Wilson Spence was born January 31, 1925 at Greenville, SC unto John Doane Spence, Sr. and Lillian Evelyn Wilson Spence, passed away March 17, 2010. His father, born in Clayton, NC was a local merchant. His mother was the daughter of Julian Sidney Wilson, the Founder of Simpsonville, SC. He was a nephew of C. Douglas Wilson, a Mortgage Banker and of Robert S. Mealing, Mayor of North Augusta. Mrs. Spence died in 1939, Mr. Spence in 1945. A brother, John Doane Spence, Jr. died in 1980. His mother died when he was only nine years old. His father was sick for many years and was unable to care for the children. Charles supported himself from the time he was twelve years old. Many people helped him during those years. Our family would like to thank the family of Mr. and Mrs. Otus Pickleseimer for allowing Charles to live in an abandoned auto for six months and take showers in their service station; Jim Love, Esquire; Southern Bell Linemen; Duke Power Linemen and others who helped him when he lived in the Stagg Apartments as a young lad. Mr. Spence graduated Greenville Senior High School in 1941. In 1942 at the age of 17 he became Manager of the Cannon Shoe Store in Cleveland, Ohio. During World War II he served in the South Pacific as a Coxswain on a landing craft in the 543rd Amphibious Brigade, surviving 62 separate Campaigns, and was Honorably Discharged in 1946. In 1946, he entered Duke University, washing dishes at the hospital to pay tuition. In 1948, he entered Duke University Law School. In 1950, he passed the Virginia Bar and was admitted to practice in Virginia. In 1951, he graduated Duke University Law School. He then took and passed the South Carolina Bar and was admitted to practice in South Carolina. He associated with the Law Firm of Leatherwood, Walker, Todd and Mann. In 1953, he formed a partnership with Younts during which time they founded Fountain Inn Federal Savings and Loan Association. In 1959, he founded Travelers Rest Savings and Loan Association, serving as a Director, Secretary and Attorney for over twenty years. In 1965 he became a sole practitioner at 101 Broadus Avenue, Greenville, SC. One of Mr. Spence’s proudest accomplishments was passing the Virginia Bar Exam after his second year of law school so that even the most difficult professors at Duke couldn’t keep him from practicing law. Mr. Spence has founded, owned or been an officer in the following: Augusta Temporaries, Inc., a franchise of Manpower Temporary Help Services, Founder, Officer & Director; Aviation Services Int’l, Founder, Officer & Director; Banner Mutual Life Insurance Company, Officer; Depositions and…Inc., a court reporting firm, Officer; Rex, Inc., Founder, Officer & Director; Spence Real Estate Co., Owner, Broker in charge; Spence, Spence & Reed, Partner; Spence & Spence, Partner; Systems Staff Corp., Founder, Officer & Director; Track-A-Temp, Inc., Founder, Officer & Director. Mr. Spence was a member, now or formerly in the following: AMBUCS, American Business Club; American Legion, Overseas Veteran; American Rifle Association, Life Member; Cancer Crusade, Crusade Chairman; Clan MacDuff of Banhard, Clan Spens; Clemson University IPTAY, Life Member; Clemson Scholarship Program, Life Member; Commerce Club of Greenville, Life Member; Duke Alumni Association; Order of the Eastern Star; Elks B.P.O.E., Trustee; Georgia University Scholarship Donor; German-American Club; Greenville Country Club, Life Member & Board of Directors; Greenwood Country Club; Houndslake Country Club, Aiken, SC ; Lions Club, Greenville, SC; Lions Club, Travelers Rest, SC; Walden Masonic Lodge No. 274, A.F.M.; Loyal Order of Moose; Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, Coquina Harbour; Pebble Creek Country Club, Life Member; Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Alpha Chapter, Duke University; Piedmont Club, Spartanburg, SC; Pinnacle Club, Augusta, GA; Sertoma Club, Wade Hampton, Greenville, SC; Hejaz Shrine Temple, Greeters Unit, Scottish Rite Bodies & York Rite Bodies; Spartanburg Country Club, Spartanburg, SC; U.S. Power Squadron, Secretary; Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Westlake Country Club, Augusta, GA. Mr. Spence is survived by his wife of 37 ½ years, Martha Wooten Spence of the home; two sons, Steven R. Spence of Travelers Rest, SC and Edward D. Spence and wife Madelen of Greenville, SC; two daughters, Laura J. Spence of Lexington, Ky and Susan F. Spence of Abbington, VA and two grandchildren, Jessica M. Spence and John W. Spence. Graveside services will be held at 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon at The Spence Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2pm until 8pm at the home on Friday, March 19, 2010, 259 Pine Log Ford Road, Travelers Rest, SC 29690. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.thoughts@manpowersc.com" title="Click to open in a new window or tab" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">www.thoughts@manpowersc.com or at www.thehowzemortuary.com.

Charles Wilson Spence

January 31, 1925 - March 17, 2010