James (Jim) Benjamin Spence, LCOL, USAF (Ret.), was born in LaFayette, Alabama on December 22, 1933. After graduating from LaFayette High School in 1952, he entered Auburn University (then Alabama Polytechnic University) and graduated in 1956. While at Auburn he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, where he served as house manager, directing the physical operation of the fraternity house. After completing Air Force ROTC he was commissioned in the Air Force where he served for 20 years.

Jim served in Vietnam as a member of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and in one 12-month tour flew 199 missions, many of them top secret. He later served as a senior officer at the USAF silo complex in Minot, North Dakota. Jim retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Upon retirement from the Air Force, Jim married the former Carol Lambert, widow of Auburn's head basketball coach, Paul Lambert, who died an untimely death in a fire in Columbus, Georgia. Jim and Carol lived in Auburn for the past thirty-seven years.

Jim was a faithful and active member of the First Baptist Church of Auburn during his residence there. He served on the Board of Directors of the Farmers and Merchants Bank in LaFayette for several years, retiring in 2017. He will be especially remembered for his faithful devotion to his family and many friends, his service to the nation, and his support for his alma mater, Auburn University.

Jim is survived by his widow, Carol Lambert Spence, his two step-daughters, Julie Diane Lambert and Jill Denise Lambert Sasse, his grandchildren Katie Crider Harper, Taylor Sasse Newell, Caroline Sasse, Rachel Sasse, and Paul Spence M. Sasse, along with his sister-in-law, Faye Spence Bowling and two nieces, Kayron Spence Campbell and Susan Whitworth.

Jim will be buried with full military honors at LaFayette City Cemetery on Friday, September 14, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. Visitation will precede the graveside service and will be held at Jeff Jones Funeral Home in LaFayette, Alabama from 1-2 p.m.

Memorial donations in memory of Jim may be made to the First Baptist Church of Auburn or the Wounded Warrior Project.