Gary Spencer

Gary Keith Spencer, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, devoted servant of Jesus Christ, and retired United States Air Force Colonel, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 95, just one month before his 96th birthday.

Gary was born September 22, 1930, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Arthur Milton Spencer and Marie Johannesen Spencer. The youngest of four sons, Gary grew up in Salt Lake City during the Great Depression and World War II. From an early age, he possessed the curiosity, independence, determination, and mechanical aptitude that would remain with him throughout his life. At eight years old, he even built his own motorized go-kart using a gas-powered Maytag washing-machine engine — an early sign of his lifelong fascination with cars, machinery, and airplanes.

Faith was also an important part of Gary's life from his earliest years. As a young man, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Norway, the birthplace of his mother. He became fluent in Norwegian and had the special opportunity to serve for several months alongside his older brother Don in Arendal, the city where their mother was born.

As a young man, Gary pursued another lifelong dream: flying. He entered pilot training through the Utah Air National Guard, later completed his education at the University of Utah, and began what would become a distinguished career in the United States Air Force and service to his country.

Gary loved to fly. Over the course of his career, he piloted numerous military aircraft, including the C-47 “Gooney Bird” and legendary jet fighters such as the F-86 Sabre and the F-84 Thunderjet. He became the first pilot in his wing to achieve combat-ready status in the F-4C Phantom II, an aircraft he would fly at more than twice the speed of sound. He proudly served his country during the Vietnam War.

Gary arrived in Vietnam in March 1966 and was wounded by shrapnel on the very day he arrived. After recovering, he was awarded the Purple Heart and continued flying numerous combat missions, including C-47 flights delivering critical supplies and transporting allied paratroopers behind enemy lines. He completed his combat tour and returned home in March 1967.

His Air Force career continued to take Gary and his family throughout the United States and Europe, where he served in a succession of flying, command, and senior staff assignments. He attended the prestigious National War College in Washington, D.C. and ultimately achieved the rank of Colonel. Among his senior assignments, Gary served as executive officer to General Robert E. Huyser, including assignments with United States European Command and Military Airlift Command, and later served as base commander at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. He concluded his military career at Brigham Young University as Professor of Aerospace Studies and commander of the Air Force ROTC program.

At the center of Gary's life throughout these years was his wife, Carolyn Pettigrew Spencer.

Gary and Carolyn were married on June 20, 1957, in the Salt Lake Temple by President David O. McKay. Their marriage became the foundation of a life together that would span nearly seven decades, countless moves and military assignments, the raising of four children, Church service, travel, and an extraordinary collection of memories. Through every chapter of Gary's military and Church service, Carolyn was his devoted partner.

Together they raised four children: Gary K. Spencer Jr. (Carrie Lee Waldron), Carrie Lynn McGhie (Marty McGhie), David M. Spencer (Julie Crandall), and Richard W. Spencer. Their family grew to include 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

To his family, Gary was much more than a colonel, commander, pilot, or Church leader. He was Dad and Grandpa — a source of strength, wisdom, humor, stories, guidance, and unwavering support. He was a pillar of his family and an example to the generations who followed him.

Gary's devotion to his faith was as enduring as his devotion to his country. His service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints extended throughout his adult life.

While stationed in Germany, Gary was called by Elder Thomas S. Monson to serve as the first president of the newly organized Stuttgart Servicemen's Stake, encompassing 27 Church units throughout southern Germany. He traveled extensively, serving Latter-day Saint families while fulfilling his senior Air Force responsibilities. Later, while stationed at Scott Air Force Base, he served as a bishop.

Following his military retirement, Gary continued a life of service. He served in a mission presidency in Utah and, together with Carolyn, was called to preside over the Charlotte North Carolina Mission. As mission president, Gary had the opportunity to lead, teach, counsel, and care for another generation of missionaries — continuing the missionary service that had begun decades earlier as a young man in Norway.

Gary's life reflected the values he held most dearly: faith in God, love of family, devotion to country, hard work, personal responsibility, service to others, and an enduring belief that when something needed to be done, you simply found a way to do it.

He was also unmistakably Gary.

He loved cars almost as much as airplanes and spent a lifetime buying them, fixing them, talking about them, and frequently accumulating more of them than Carolyn believed any reasonable person should own. Gary also loved the many dogs he had over the years. He spoiled every one of them shamelessly and maintained that they were equal members of the Spencer family. It was not unusual to see Gary driving around town with his dog happily riding beside him, head hanging out the passenger-side window.

He was mechanically curious, resourceful, confident, and rarely intimidated by a problem. He was also a gifted storyteller with a wonderful, often dry, sense of humor. He understood the value of laughter and used humor naturally — to entertain, to comfort, to put people at ease, and sometimes simply to make a good story even better.

Whether repairing an old car, learning to fly a new airplane, commanding an Air Force installation, organizing a new stake, presiding over a mission, or helping a member of his family, Gary approached life with energy, determination, confidence, and a sense of humor that endeared him to those around him.

He belonged to a generation shaped by depression and war, believed deeply in America, and understood service as an obligation rather than an accomplishment. He wore the uniform of his country with pride and devoted much of his adult life to protecting the freedoms he cherished. Yet his greatest legacy cannot be measured by military rank, aircraft flown, positions held, or titles earned. It lives in the family he and Carolyn built, the faith he practiced and passed to future generations, the missionaries and Church members he served, the Airmen he led, and the many people whose lives were better because Gary Spencer had been part of them.

Gary is survived by his beloved wife, Carolyn; his four children, Gary K. Spencer Jr. (Carrie), Carrie Spencer McGhie (Marty), David M. Spencer (Julie), and Richard W. Spencer; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many other family members and friends who loved him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Marie Spencer; his brothers, Arthur, Robert, and Donald Spencer; and his sweet grandson, Kory Spencer, son of Gary Jr. and Carrie Spencer.

The Spencer family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Aspen Ridge of Utah Valley for the exceptional care, kindness, and love they showed Gary during the final weeks of his life.

A viewing will be held Monday, August 31, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Canyon View Stake Center at 561 East 800 North, Orem, Utah 84097. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m.

Following the funeral service, a graveside service for family members will be held at Timpanogos Memorial Gardens in Orem, Utah.

After nearly 96 years, Gary Keith Spencer leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of service — to his family, to his faith, and to the United States of America.

A life well lived. A family deeply loved. A faith that never wavered. A country honorably served.

Condolences may be extended online at www.bergmortuary.com.