Leo Bankhead

Leo Spence Bankhead

December 13, 1927 ~ March 14, 2018

Leo Spence Bankhead passed away peacefully on March 14, 2018 after a brief illness. He was 90 years old.

Spence Bankhead was born on December 13, 1927 in Avon, Utah to Samuel Leo and Harriet Taylor Bankhead. Spence grew up on a farm where they raised sheep, milk cows, and chickens. As the oldest of five children, Spence learned from an early age the meaning of hard work and loved helping his dad on the farm. Spence always spoke fondly of having his Grandpa and Grandma Spence live with their family and remembers reading the Book of Mormon to his Grandma. He was proud of having perfect attendance in Sunday School for seven years.

Spence attended Paradise Elementary School where he enjoyed playing marbles and was very successful at it. He attended South Cache High School in Hyrum where his favorite subjects were chemistry and seminary, and he always said he enjoyed every day of school. He was elected to be the Jr. Class President and played on the school basketball and baseball teams.

After high school, Spence was called to serve a two-year mission to the Texas Louisiana Mission where they went without purse or script for two months at a time. He loved being a missionary, knew the scriptures well, and could still quote the Articles of Faith into his later years.

Spence returned from his mission and married Ida Mae Griffin in 1950. He attended Utah State for four years, and then he and Mae moved to St. Louis where he graduated from Washington University Dental School. To this union was born four children: Brenda, Randy, Craig, and David. Spence and Mae returned to Utah where Spence set up his Dental practice in 1956 in Ogden. Spence and Mae divorced.

Spence married Diane Clark in 1959. Spence loved and raised Diane’s son Clark, and Spence and Diane were blessed with two more sons, Steve and Alex. Spence and Diane moved to Roy where they were very social and served in a variety of church callings. He was also the PTA President.

Spence and Diane moved to Ogden and during their time there served an Ogden Inner City three-year mission. They also served on Temple Square as ushers. Spence served in the Ogden Temple for 6 years and loved his time there.

Spence enjoyed being a Dentist and retired after practicing for 38 years. He was always glad that dentistry was his chosen profession.

Spence is survived by his children: Brenda Kidd, Randy (Jeri), Craig (Marmie), David (Darolyn), Clark (Linda) Smith, Steven (Reneé), Alex (Rori); sister Lois Faye (Reed) Leishman, brother Dee (Anita), 27 grandkids and 53 great-grandkids. He was preceded in death by his wife Diane, parents Leo and Harriet, sister Barbra (Max) Thompson, and brother Samuel Clair (Mary Jean).

Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 19, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Country Hills Ward, 1401 Country Hills Dr. Friends may visit with family on Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Paradise Cemetery. Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.

The family would like to thank Reed and Lois Faye Leishman for their loving care of Dad.