Rudolph Spencer Jr.(Downtown)

Rudolph Spencer Jr. 81, passed away on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. He was born on May 31, 1942, in Macon, GA, to his late parents Margaret R. Campbell (Johnson) and Rudolph Spencer Sr. He was raised by his Grandmother Ida Lee Spencer and Grandfather John Burney. He passed away on January 31, 2024. He was educated at George Washington Carver Grammar School for African Americans and Ballard-Hudson High School in Macon. As a child, he spent a lot of time at the Booker T. Washington Community Center, where he found his love for creative arts like painting, sketching, and drawing. He even won an art contest as a seven-year-old with his unique drawing of sailboats. His use of art helped him overcome his shyness and the limitations of his stutter. After high school, he volunteered to join the United States Air Force because he said his job sweeping floors at the grocery store “wasn’t going to cut it.” As an Airman, he trained to be a photographer. He deployed for two tours of duty in the Vietnam War, documenting combat operations on the frontlines. He achieved the rank of Sergeant before leaving active duty. He returned to Georgia wanting to begin a photography career for a federal agency. After being passed over a few times for photographer opportunities, he got his “foot in the door” by working as a janitor. After a few months on the job (and knowing the rules), he leveraged his tenure, veteran’s preference, and portfolio to get hired as a photographer. Eventually, he relocated to work at the Naval Ordnance Station in Louisville, KY, where he retired in 1995 as a supervisor in the Photo Lab department. He was also known as a very effective Union Steward for station employees (Local Lodge 830, IAM&AW). After retirement, he never picked up a camera again. He spent his retirement enjoying television, reading books, learning new technologies, playing billiards, hunting for rare collectibles, going to the casino, enjoying KFC, and having a “drink” while enjoying the breeze on his porch every night. He is survived by a wonderful family that loves and will miss him very much. Visitation will be on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 11:00 am at A.D. Porter & Sons Funeral Home, 1300 W. Chestnut St., and funeral services will follow at noon. He will be interred in a private ceremony for his immediate family at the KY Veterans Cemetery - Central in Radcliff, KY. In lieu of flowers, Memorial gifts may be made to the Fund for the Arts at https://fundforthearts.org/give. All gifts will be used in community centers around Louisville to fund youth art activities and programs…just like the ones that inspired him as a kid. services livestream:https://vimeo.com/event/4071267

Rudolph Spencer Jr.(Downtown)

May 31, 1942 - January 31, 2024