Former Washington Adventist University Professor Joe Spicer Passes Away

Professor Joseph Ruben Spicer, born June 9, 1929 in Chicago, Ill. passed away peacefully of natural causes on January 22, 2018 in Clemmons, NC. He was the son of the late Seventh-day Adventist Elder Joseph and Anna Spicer from the Adriatic coast of former Yugoslavia. 

 

He grew up with his predeceased sister Ruth "Ruthie" Spicer Pajic in NYC, and then Ohio (Columbia Station and Akron), as they traveled with their father's ministry. They were musical siblings who actively sang in choirs and Spicer also played the saxophone and accordion. He attended Washington Missionary College (now Washington Adventist University) in Takoma Park, Md., and then the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary (Mich.). He served as associate pastor under Kurt Kurz at churches in Columbus, Reynoldsburg, Grove City and Millersburg, Ohio. He also served as pastor of the church in Wooster, Ohio. 

 

In the late 60s, he took the call to teach at Columbia Union College (now Washington Adventist University) in Takoma Park, Md., where he joined the Potomac Conference's Sligo church. He was a disc jockey of the then-classical radio station, WGTS 91.9, which he also managed for several years. 

 

He was head of the Communication department at Columbia Union College and adjunct professor at Howard University until his retirement. Spicer was an avid sailor who lived on the Anacostia and spent his golden years traveling and enjoying life with his (predeceased) second wife, Joy in Bern, NC. 

 

He is survived by his step-daughter Dawn Ohl of NC and by his first wife, Jan, his daughters Laura Rutherford and Beth Kohlhoss of Potomac, Md., and several grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, May 19, at 2 p.m. at Sligo church, 7700 Carroll Ave in Takoma Park, MD. All are welcome.