Robert "Bob" Duane Spence

Robert “Bob” Duane Spence was born May 31, 1936 in Emporia, KS to Marion and Fayrene (Akins) Spence.  Robert was the third son of nine children.  Robert attended Emporia High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17.  He received his training at Camp Chaffee Ark and engineer training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.  Robert was a Heavy Construction Equipment Operator in the 370th Engineer Battalion, stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany in 1955-1957.  He worked for Goodyear for 33 years, retiring in 1998.  He is survived by his wife, Mary J. Chilson (Engeman) whom he married on October 19, 2006.  He is also survived by a brother, Tom Spence, Spring Hills, FL, half-sister, Jackie Tracie, step brother John Akins, both of Sioux Falls, SD, step-sons, Ed Hundley, of Topeka, Larry Hundley, of Independence, MO, step-daughter, Mary Ellen Corkins, of Atchison, along with several grandchildren and step-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Fayrene Akins, father, Marion Spence, step-father Duell Jack Akins, sisters, Maurene Barber and Joan Stubbs and brothers, Gary Michael, Marion Darrell, Donald Ewing, and Jim Spence.  Robert will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Wednesday after 9:00 a.m. where the family will receive friends.  Funeral Service will follow at 10:00 a.m.  Interment will be in Leavenworth National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. where military honors will be conducted.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Avenue Topeka, Kansas  66603.