APRIL 16 – Sidney Bruce Spencer, 97, of Farmville, passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2013. He was born on October 27, 1915 at Hunting Towers in Rival located in eastern Buckingham County. He was the son of Albert Sidney Spencer and Jennie Corson Spencer.

A native of Buckingham County, he distinguished himself on the baseball diamond during his student years at Hampden-Sydney, particularly as the team captain during his senior season of 1937. Following his graduation from college, he was hired as a “runner” by the First National Bank in Farmville. With the exception of his service as a naval officer during World War II, he spent his entire professional career with that bank rising through the ranks to become the bank's president and executive officer in 1969. Widely respected in state and regional banking circles, he retired in 1980.

Over the years, he has demonstrated his love for his alma mater by being an active alumnus, holding positions as president of the Southside Alumni Chapter and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association. He was also a past member of the Farmville Jaycees, served on the board of the Southside Virginia Community College, was a member of the Farmville Lions Club and clerk of the session in the Farmville Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by his loving family including his niece, Mary Helen Gowin (Pete) of Buckingham; nephews, John Wood Jr. of Buckingham, Corson Spencer (Alice) of Rice, Tony Dale Curtis (Cathy) of Midlothian, and Jesse W. Curtis (Sandra) of N. Richland Hills, TX and many other nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys Curtis Spencer, brothers, Charles Carrington Spencer and John Corson Spencer and sister, Kish Spencer Wood.

Visitation will be at Doyne-Burger-Davis Funeral Home, Thursday, April 18 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 19 at the Farmville Presbyterian Church with interment to follow at Westview Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to the S. Bruce and Gladys Curtis Spencer Scholarship Fund at Hampden-Sydney College. Donations can be sent to Institutional Advancement, Hampden-Sydney College, PO Box 637, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the loving care provided by the staff of Brookview Lodge, Hospice of Virginia and his caregivers, Mildred Bender, Lillian Patterson and Marion Jones.

Doyne-Burger-Davis Funeral Home, Farmville, is in charge of arrangements.