Linda Jane Spence

Linda Jane Spence, 88, of Melbourne, FL, went home to be with her Lord and Saviour and was reunited with her beloved husband, Bob, on April 16, 2023. Linda was born in Birmingham, AL, on July 19, 1934, and was the youngest of three children born to Romulus and Estelle Ballew.

Linda’s family moved from Alabama to Jacksonville, FL, when she was around 7 years old and she lived there until after she married the love of her life, Bob Spence, in 1958. As Bob was in the Navy, they moved several times until he retired in 1968 and moved back to Jacksonville where they built their dream home and lived for the next 43 years. Due to their declining health, they moved to Brevard County in 2011 to be closer to their family.

Linda was an avid member of Ft. Caroline Baptist Church in Jacksonville before moving to Brevard County where she continued to serve the Lord in whatever capacity her health would allow at the Church at Viera.

Linda loved working with numbers and made a living as a Bookkeeper and Tax Preparer for over 45 years. She began working at 20th Century Fox in the 1950’s and held several bookkeeping positions over the years. She worked in the Credit Union at State Farm in Jacksonville for 20 years before forming her own business. Tax season was as much a social event for Linda as it was work as she loved interacting with her clients and cultivated many friendships that continued long after she finally retired.

Linda was a great example of a Proverbs 31 Woman. She loved working with her hands and was an accomplished seamstress, a phenomenal cook, a talented cake decorator (in fact she even decorated her daughter’s wedding cake) and was a very creative crafter. Linda also worked tirelessly alongside Bob in their vegetable garden and what they didn’t eat right away or share with neighbors, she froze or canned for her family and others. With much love, she crocheted hundreds of baby blankets for newborns and caps for cancer patients as well as afghans and other items for family members and friends. Linda was the happiest and most fulfilled when she was surrounded by her family.

Linda was preceded in death by her husband of over 62 years, Bob Spence; and, just as she had longed for over the last two years, they are together again for all eternity. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Romulus and Estelle Ballew; her sister, Betty Roberson and her brother, R.S. Ballew, Jr.

Linda is survived by her two devoted children and their spouses: Diane and Don Verner and Kelly and Priscilla Spence. She is also survived and loved dearly by her three grandchildren and their spouses; Dana Verner Tripp, Jessica and Jeff Camp and Kathy and Jamie Ritchey; 6 great-grandchildren and multiple nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Church at Viera, 9005 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne, FL, on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with a reception immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Linda’s honor to The School for the Deaf and Blind, 207 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084 or online at www.fsdbk12.org/donate.