Leroy Reginald Spinney ... learned violin in his 80s

ROCHESTER - World War II veteran, Leroy Reginald Spinney, 88, died peacefully Wednesday morning, Oct., 15, 2014, at Rochester Manor with his loving family by his side.

Lee was the son of Irene (Barnett) Couhig and Paul Spinney. Known as Roy to school and Army chums, Lee was born in Portsmouth, 12/16/25 and grew up in Kittery, Maine. After graduating from Traip Academy, Lee enlisted in the Army Air Forces. He served as Air Crew Trainee in Amarillo, Texas, from December of 1943 through October of 1945.

After the War, Lee was trained as a sheet metal mechanic at Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut. Moving to Shrewsbury, Mass., he worked construction for a few years, eventually moving back to Maine. He worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. After retiring, he worked as a manager/maintenance guy at apartment complexes in Exeter and Rollinsford - a job he loved.

Lee enjoyed people, and always kept busy. He joined the Grange, eventually serving as Master. He joined the Masons. He served as Dad Advisor to York Assembly #23 of Rainbow for Girls. He was a member of DryDock. He joined the American Legion. He served the Association at Lilac City Mobile Home Estates. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Barrington. In his 80s, Lee made multiple trips to Arizona and Prince Edward Island, took flying lessons, learned to play the violin, joined a Bible study, went out on his friend's boat, and went fishing.

He is predeceased by his sister Mae Bertram, his infant sister Ruby Lois Spinney, and Shirley Scott Spinney, his wife of 50 years. He leaves his daughter Sandra Lee Spinney Dodge, her husband Clinton; granddaughter Heather Moore and her husband Dana, grandson Kenneth Dodge and his wife Kirstin; great-grandchildren Marissa Lynne Moore, Cameron Alexander Moore, and Gavin Parker Dodge.