Theodora Rose (Lewis) Spencer (1903 - 1962)

Born 18 Apr 1903 in Centerville, Allegany, New York, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Lorn LaVern Spencer — married 11 Sep 1920 (to 25 Jun 1935) in Flint, Genesee, Michigan, United States

Descendants

Died 15 Nov 1962 at age 59 in Oakland, Michigan, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Keith Mann Spencer [send private message]

Biography

Theodora (Lewis) Spencer has English ancestors.

Theodora (Lewis) Spencer is a part of Michigan history. Join: Michigan Project Discuss: Michigan

Birth & Origin

Theodora R Lewis was born on April 18, 1903^[1], in Centerville, Allegany, New York, United States.

Parents

Her father was Samuel James Lewis (1866-1919) and her mother was Emma A (Myers) Lewis (1862-1928)

Theodora's father immigrated to The United States, from England when he was only ten years old, but his parents stayed back in Ashton, Gloucestershire, England.

On June 1, 1905^[2][3], Theodora, and her family lived in Albion, Oswego, New York, USA.

Her only sibling was an older sister named Emily Jane (Lewis) Gregory (1900-1985).

In 1910^[4] Theodora and her family were living in Auburn Ward 7, Cayuga, New York, United States.

She was born with beautiful auburn ginger hair and was about five foot 2 inches tall.

Marriage

She met Lorn LaVern Spencer (1900-1980) while living in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan, US, and they married on September 11, 1920^[5][6][7], in Flint, Michigan, US.

In 1921^[8] Theodora and her husband Lorn Lavern were living in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan.

In 1924^[9] Theodora, her husband Lorn Lavern Spencer, and three of their children were living in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan.

Together they had five children within nine years.

Children

• 1st born was Loraine Jean (Spencer) Mitchell (1921-1980)born on 5 June 1921, and passed away on 1 May 1980.

• 2nd born was, who was Lorn Spencerborn 18 October 1922, and passed away on 24 Feb 1986.

• 3rd born was, who was James Lewis Spencer (1924-1990)born on 29 August 1924, and passed away on 20 July 1990.

• 4th born was Rosezella May Spencer (1926-1926)born on 1 March 1926 but passed away from croup, and pneumonia on 31 May 1926^[10].

• 5th born was Patricia Ann (Spencer) Hall (1929-2010)born on 16 June 1929 and passed away on 13 August 2010.

I have been told that Theodora's husband would leave her numerous times but ended up coming back^[11] for a while in between children because he kept getting her pregnant.

Finally, they ended up getting divorced on June 25, 1935^[12][13].

Not long after her divorce, Theodora was stricken with encephalitis, caused by a biting mosquito.

She was partially paralyzed on the left side of her body, but could still talk and walk.

In 1940 she was living in a nursing home in Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan.

Death

Such a tragic life ended with her death at the age of 59.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28580322?h=8d7e3d
2. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28579448?h=e6976e
3. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7364/004518293_00008/5589958?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/151934636/person/362014088887/facts/citation/1022017631657/edit/record
4. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5C8-51
5. ↑ http://sites.rootsweb.com/~mifgs/marriages/spay-stao_1.html
6. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9093/41326_342335-00557/3703933?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/151934636/person/362014088887/facts/citation/1022017631656/edit/record
7. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3BH-K2R
8. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28593367?h=29a3b8
9. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28593326?h=6aa3c8
10. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFSX-RJ3
11. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQY6-83R
12. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9092/41327_335130-00579/6268594?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/151934636/person/362014088887/facts/citation/1022036243556/edit/record
13. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28593525?h=052017 Image on Ancestry

• New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942 for Theodora R Lewis, New York State Department of Health, April 18, 1903, Centerville, Allegany, New York, United States, Certificate Number 14560, Image on Ancestry

• 1905 United States Federal Census, June 1, 1905, Theodora R Lewis, Birth Year, 1903, Birth Place, Centerville, Allegany, New York, United States, Age 2, Gender, Female, Race, White, Residence Year,1905, Residence, Albion, Oswego, New York, USA, Relationship to Head, Daughter, father, Samuel James Lewis, age 37, mother, Emma R Lewis, age 40, sister, Emily Lewis, age 4, Election District, 01, Household Members, 5, Image on Ancestry [1]

• 1910 United States Federal Census"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5C8-51J : accessed 23 November 2020), Theradora Lewis in household of S J Lewis, Auburn Ward 7, Cayuga, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 20, sheet 3B, family 63, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 928; FHL microfilm 1,374,941.

• 1920 United States Federal Census, January 2, 1920, Name, Theodora Lewis, Age 17, Birth Year, 1903, Birthplace, New York, Home in 1920, Flint Ward 2, Genesee, Michigan, Street, Richfield Road, Residence Date,1920, Race, White, Gender, Female, Relation to Head of House, Daughter, Marital Status, Single, Father's Birthplace, England, Mother's Name, Emma Lewis, Mother's Birthplace, New York, Image on Ancestry [2]

• Marriage of Theodora Lewis, to Lorn L Spencer, Flint Genealogical Society PO Box 1217, Flint Michigan 48501-1217, Genesee County Marriage Index to 1934, http://sites.rootsweb.com/~mifgs/marriages/spay-stao_1.html

• Flint, Michigan, City Directory, 1921, Theodora Spencer, and L LaVern Spencer, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28593367?h=29a3b8

• Flint, Michigan, City Directory, 1924, Theodora Spencer, and Lorn Lavern Spencer, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28593326?h=6aa3c8

• Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952, for Theodora Lewis, and Lorn L Spencer [3] Image on Ancestry

• "Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3BH-K2R : 15 January 2019), Lorin L. Spencer and Theodora R. Lewis, 1920.

• Death of her Daughter Rozella May Spencer "Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFSX-RJ3 : 13 March 2018), Theodore Lewis in entry for Rosezella May Spencer, 31 May 1926; citing Flint, Genesee, Michigan, United States, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing; FHL microfilm 1,972,701.

• 1930 United States Federal Census "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQY6-83R : accessed 23 November 2020), Theodor E Spencer in household of Levern T Spencer, Burton, Genesee, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 4, sheet 3B, line 67, family 64, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 984; FHL microfilm 2,340,719.

• Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952, for Theodora Lewis Spencer, and Lorn L Spencer [4] Image on Ancestry