Pvt Spencer was the son of Francis Marion Spencer and Clarissa Jane Stuard Spencer.  Roy was born and raised on the family farm in Cope, Washington County, Colorado.

He was a US Army World War II Veteran. He served as a Private in the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment at the Battle of the Bulge, near Flamizoulle, Belgium.  While attempting to halt a German tank counter-attack with a bazooka anti-tank gun, which was known to be faulty, he was killed in action. His gallantry inspired his company to successfully repulse the German counter-attack. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
Roy is interned at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Luxembourg.