Vern E. Spencer

He was graduated from the Practical Bible Training School (Davis College) in Johnson City, NY in 1942. While studying for the ministry, Rev. Spencer became the minister of the Breesport Baptist Church and became a war-time pastor when he preached his first sermon there on December 7, 1941 – Pearl Harbor Day. While at Breesport he was ordained to the gospel ministry on April 6, 1945. Rev. Spencer served many local New York Baptist churches: West Danby Baptist Church, Peoples Baptist Church of Newfield and North Spencer Baptist Church. He also pastored at the Port Norris Baptist Church in NJ, Calvary Baptist Church in Windsor Locks, Ct, and Bible Baptist Church in Newtown, CT. After retirement he returned to the Tompkins County area and served as an interim Pastor in several local churches including those in Dryden, Breesport, West Danby, Brooktondale and filled in many times as a supply Pastor in various other churches.

During a thirty-year ministry in New England, he produced and conducted The Bible Today radio program; taught at Heritage Baptist Institute in Springfield, MA; served on the board of Northfield Bible Conference and the executive board of the Fellowship of Baptist for Home Missions; and hosted several study tours to the Holy Land. He was certified as a professional marriage & family counselor and conducted family relationship seminars throughout the Northeast. He also wrote weekly columns for several newspapers and has had articles published in a variety of Christian periodicals, including The Baptist Bulletin and Moody Monthly. At age 87 he authored a book, “Playing By The Rules”.

He was honored by Ella T. Grosso, a Member of the Connecticut delegation to Congress,who eventually became Governor of Connecticut, in a letter that states in part, “…I join in this tribute to a distinguished spiritual leader who has been strength and inspiration to his flock and the beloved community which he has served.”

In 2004 the Empire State Baptist Fellowship awarded Rev. Spencer the “Fellowship Faithful” award for his years of service and dedication to New York State Baptist Churches.

Pastor Spencer was a loveable and Godly man who served the Lord continuously for nearly 70 years. During that time he was also a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Survivors include his son, Rev. Dean E. (Linda) Spencer of Dryden; his daughter, Susan Lee (Rev. Guy) Stockslager of Brookneal, VA; grandchildren, Matthew (Joelle) Spencer of Orchard Park, NY, SFC Mark (Brianne) Spencer of Warren, CT, who is presently deployed on active duty with the Connecticut Army National Guard, Adam (Joanna) Spencer of Gulf Port, FL and Sandi Stockslager of Lynchburg, VA; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Samuel, Cassidy and Savannah Spencer; a brother, Robert Spencer of Luthersburg, PA; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Alan and a sister Helen Curry.

Funeral services will be held at 10 AM Saturday, April 17, 2010 in the Brooktondale Baptist Church, NYS Rt. 79, Brooktondale, NY. Rev. Richard Lloyd will officiate. Burial will follow in West Danby Cemetery. Friends are invited to call from 5 to 7 PM Friday at the Perkins Funeral Home, 55 West Main St., Dryden. Those wishing to remember Pastor Spencer are asked to consider a memorial gift in his name and in lieu of flowers to the Oak Hill Manor Activity Fund, 602 Hudson St., Ithaca, NY or to The Brooktondale Baptist Church, P.O. Box 144, Brooktondale, NY 14817.