Spencer Gibbs Gregory, of Sudbury, went to be with the Lord on January 5, 2015, having just celebrated his 79th birthday. Spence, born in 1935 in Chester, Pennsylvania, was the eldest son of Helen Spencer Gregory and Frank E. Gregory. When Spence was 13, the family purchased a dairy farm in Jericho, marking a return to family roots and establishing in Spence a lifelong love of Vermont. Spence graduated from the University of Vermont in 1959, where he met Margery Pelsue of Bennington at the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, beginning a love affair and marriage that lasted 56 years. The couple married in June 1958.
After college, Marge and Spence moved to Barre where Spence embarked on a career in journalism with the Times Argus. There they welcomed their first child, Janet Ellen. Several reporting positions followed, eventually leading them to the Boston area for a job with United Press International (UPI). The birth of their son, Robert Spencer, completed the family. Spence's career moved from print to television journalism, most notably as executive producer of news programming at WCVB-TV (Channel 5) in Boston. During his tenure there Spence was honored with two Emmy Awards for News Excellence. In 1982, Spence and Marge returned to Vermont when they purchased The Village House, a fine home accessories shop in Waitsfield. The next 18 years were spent running a successful store, meeting new people, entering into the affairs of a small town and as active participants of the Bible Fellowship Church of Waitsfield.
Marge and Spence retired to Sudbury in 2000 where he continued to lead a very active life. He was an avid photographer and outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, kayaking, working in his gardens, building stone walls and spending hours cleaning out the woods at the back of their property. At age 75 he was still holding his own in church softball games. For over 40 years Spence continued to write in his journal daily. Last year he published a memoir. Spence was a man who lived his faith daily, served as an elder at Brandon Baptist Church and cherished his friendships with everyone there. Family was Spence's greatest joy.
Many memorable times were spent with daughter Jan, her husband Fred Kenney, his son Rob and his wife Deb Sherman-Gregory. He loved being a grandfather and enjoyed extended visits with his grandchildren, Cami, Ali and Ben. A celebration of Spence's life will be held at Brandon Baptist Church on Saturday, January 24, 2015, at 2 p.m. Following the ceremony, the family will receive friends in the church hall for a time of fellowship. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you celebrate Spence's life with a gift to Brandon Baptist Church, 13 Champlain Street, Brandon, VT 05733. Arrangements are under the direction of Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon.
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