Richard William "Dick" Spencer
Former Porterville Mayor Richard William "Dick" Spencer passed away on November 19, 2017 in Porterville following an extended illness. Dick was born in Palo Alto, California on June 19,1928, the son of Georgia (Skeen) and Dr. Peter Spencer. After living with his parents in the Philippine Islands for two years, he attended elementary and high school in Claremont, California, graduating in 1946. Shortly thereafter, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as an aerial photographer for two years. He attended Pomona College (194850) and graduated with a B.S. and Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, in 1954.
While attending college in Pomona, Dick married the love of his life Mary Lou Hendrick and began a partnership that flourished for nearly 70 years. After earning his doctorate, Dick and Mary Lou settled in Tulare County (first in Visalia and a year later in Porterville). Their two children, Gayle and Richard Craig, were born shortly thereafter, and Dick began a career in optometry, specializing in children's visual development.
During his 54-year career in optometry, Dick earned many professional awards, including Fellow in Vision Development in the College of Optometrists, Fellow in the American Academy of Optometrists, 1969 Optometrist of the Year for the Tulare-kings County Optometric Association and 1977 Optometrist of the Year of both the California Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association.
Throughout his career Dick was actively involved in local, state and national optometric associations, promoting continuing education and political involvement. While building a highly successful practice in optometry and raising a family, Dick gave freely of himself for projects and organizations in the community. He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, Director of the Tulare County Health Coordinating Council, a local and state officer of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, founder and president of the Porterville Sheltered Workshop, Charter President of the Breakfast Lions Club, and President of the Porterville Rotary Club. He was a member of the Porterville Planning Commission, Porterville City Council and was elected Mayor in 1969. For his contributions to the community, Dick was named Porterville Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 1971. Of his many awards and recognitions, the one of which he was most proud occurred during his college days in Oregon when he successfully had his fraternity kicked off campus because he challenged the national rule restricting membership; he and fellow students then began a new fraternity open to all on the basis of character, rather than birth. This fairness carried over to the workplace, earning him Boss of the Year recognition.
Dick Spencer's involvement in professional and community affairs demonstrates a record of active leadership in every facet of his life. He dedicated himself to the welfare and improvement of the people he served, the profession he loved and the community in which he lived.
Dick is survived by wife Mary Lou of Porterville; daughter Gayle of Fresno, grandsons Patrick Moyle of Redwood City, and Christopher (and wife Selena) Moyle of Fresno and granddaughter Nicole Vargas of Long Beach. He was preceded in death by his son Richard Craig, his parents and two brothers, Bert and James.
A memorial celebration in honor of Dick's life will be held at 11:30 am on Sunday, December 17,2017 at River Island Country Club. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the charity of your choice.