Veteran La Grande Trainman Dies
Jesse W(ells) Spencer, 53, for the past 32 years a conductor and brakeman for the Union Pacific railroad in the Grande Ronde valley, died at a local hospital yesterday. Coroner L.L. Snodgrass believed from a heart attack. He had undergone an operation for appendicitis.
Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon at the Snodgrass Funeral home with Rev F.L. Shoemaker officiating and burial in the Masonic cemetery.
Mr. Spencer was born July 5, 1887 in Lucas, IA. He had been a resident of the valley for the past 34 years. He lived at 2110 Cedar Street and was a member of the Elks lodge and Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, No. 315.
Survivors include his widow Mrs. Ruth (Plass) Spencer; his parents Mr. And Mrs. Elijah Spencer, Lucas, Ia; one son Stanley, LaGrande; three daughters, Mrs. Dorothy (Stanley) Bradshaw and Mrs. Doris Allen, LaGrande, and Mrs. Evelyn VonWald, Van Nuys, Calif; three brothers and two sisters in Iowa, one brother in Portland and two grandchildren.
LaGrande Evening Observer
Wed. July 10, 1940
Contributed by: Jane M Spencer