Earl Winfield Spencer Jr. was a pioneering U. S. Navy pilot, he was the first husband of Wallis Simpson future wife of the former King Edward VIII.
Known as Win, he was born in Kinsley, son of Earl Winfield Spencer Sr. a prominent Chicago stockbroker, the former Agnes Lucy Hughes of Jersey. He attended Racine College in Wisconsin, he later graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1910. In 1917 was sent to San Diego with instructions to set up a permanent naval air station, to be used for training exercises, he became its first commanding officer of Naval Air Station North Island, located on Coronado.
Spencer was married five times. Four of his wives were: Bessie Wallis Warfield, only child of Teackle Wallis Warfield, member of a prominent Maryland family. Spencer was alleged to be abusive and an alcoholic. After several separations, the Spencers divorced in December 1927. After a second marriage, to Ernest Aldrich Simpson, a subsequent divorce, Wallis Spencer married the former King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom and became the Duchess of Windsor.
Mariam J. Maze the former wife of Albert Cressey Maze, she was daughter of George and Katie Anastasia Ham of Portland, Oregon. They married in September 1928 and were divorced in 1936, the same year Spencer was made a Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy by Benito Mussolini. By this marriage he had one stepson, Robert Claude Maze Sr. Major, USMC. Mariam Spencer married, in 1939, to her third husband, Vice Admiral Arthur William Radford, USN, a future Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Norma Reese Johnson, the widow of Homer Sturtevant Johnson, a Detroit manufacturer who died in 1928, a daughter of Carl Reese, of Detroit, Michigan. Spencer and Johnson were married in Los Angeles, California, on July 4, 1937. By this marriage he had two stepdaughters: Betty L. Johnson, an actress and songwriter and Kathryne Johnson; the Spencers' wedding was a double wedding with Betty and Peyton Legare, whose wedding in February 1942 in Tijuana, was not valid under California law and needed to be resolemnized.
The couple separated on February 9, 1940, were divorced that year in Santa Monica, California. Both parties charged cruelty, Norma declared that her husband was plagued by what The New York Times's announcement of their acrimonious divorce delicately called "habitual intemperance." Time magazine reported, "During a stormy session of accusations and counter accusations Navy Men Spencer, charged with cruelty and habitual intemperance, testified that his weekly liquor bill was only about $10, that his wife'drank as much of it as I did.'" Lillian Phillips, daughter of Robert A. and Ella Burgess Phillips, whom he married October 2, 1941. Commander Spencer died in California, he is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, with his wife Lillian. He was portrayed by actor Ryan Hayward in W. E. the 2011 British romantic drama film about the love of Wallis and King Edward VIII co-written and directed by Madonna
Thank you FindAGrave Contributor: Marsha Clark (50338359)
Married to the future English Duchess.
His wife's attempt at marriage and high society was dismal. Love smitten Earl claimed vast riches but in reality was a Naval Aviator. His dreams to provide for this wife of rich taste could not be achieved.
Mrs. Spencer was relegated to life as a military wife stationed in San Diego, California. A simple common American military housewife.
After the Spencer divorce, she went to China, married Englishman Ernest Simpson, a wealthy business man who provided her with connections to British society. Wallis had found her calling.
***
Thank you fellow Find A Grave contributor for third and final marriage information to honor his wife who is buried head to head with him.
Ed Carlson
Swede
-------------------------
Thank you fellow Find A Grave contributor for second marriage information to honor wife Mariam J. Radford. Mariam did remarry a third time and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Earl Winfield Spencer Jr. was a pioneering U. S. Navy pilot, he was the first husband of Wallis Simpson future wife of the former King Edward VIII.
Known as Win, he was born in Kinsley, son of Earl Winfield Spencer Sr. a prominent Chicago stockbroker, the former Agnes Lucy Hughes of Jersey. He attended Racine College in Wisconsin, he later graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1910. In 1917 was sent to San Diego with instructions to set up a permanent naval air station, to be used for training exercises, he became its first commanding officer of Naval Air Station North Island, located on Coronado.
Spencer was married five times. Four of his wives were: Bessie Wallis Warfield, only child of Teackle Wallis Warfield, member of a prominent Maryland family. Spencer was alleged to be abusive and an alcoholic. After several separations, the Spencers divorced in December 1927. After a second marriage, to Ernest Aldrich Simpson, a subsequent divorce, Wallis Spencer married the former King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom and became the Duchess of Windsor.
Mariam J. Maze the former wife of Albert Cressey Maze, she was daughter of George and Katie Anastasia Ham of Portland, Oregon. They married in September 1928 and were divorced in 1936, the same year Spencer was made a Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy by Benito Mussolini. By this marriage he had one stepson, Robert Claude Maze Sr. Major, USMC. Mariam Spencer married, in 1939, to her third husband, Vice Admiral Arthur William Radford, USN, a future Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Norma Reese Johnson, the widow of Homer Sturtevant Johnson, a Detroit manufacturer who died in 1928, a daughter of Carl Reese, of Detroit, Michigan. Spencer and Johnson were married in Los Angeles, California, on July 4, 1937. By this marriage he had two stepdaughters: Betty L. Johnson, an actress and songwriter and Kathryne Johnson; the Spencers' wedding was a double wedding with Betty and Peyton Legare, whose wedding in February 1942 in Tijuana, was not valid under California law and needed to be resolemnized.
The couple separated on February 9, 1940, were divorced that year in Santa Monica, California. Both parties charged cruelty, Norma declared that her husband was plagued by what The New York Times's announcement of their acrimonious divorce delicately called "habitual intemperance." Time magazine reported, "During a stormy session of accusations and counter accusations Navy Men Spencer, charged with cruelty and habitual intemperance, testified that his weekly liquor bill was only about $10, that his wife'drank as much of it as I did.'" Lillian Phillips, daughter of Robert A. and Ella Burgess Phillips, whom he married October 2, 1941. Commander Spencer died in California, he is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, with his wife Lillian. He was portrayed by actor Ryan Hayward in W. E. the 2011 British romantic drama film about the love of Wallis and King Edward VIII co-written and directed by Madonna
Thank you FindAGrave Contributor: Marsha Clark (50338359)
Married to the future English Duchess.
His wife's attempt at marriage and high society was dismal. Love smitten Earl claimed vast riches but in reality was a Naval Aviator. His dreams to provide for this wife of rich taste could not be achieved.
Mrs. Spencer was relegated to life as a military wife stationed in San Diego, California. A simple common American military housewife.
After the Spencer divorce, she went to China, married Englishman Ernest Simpson, a wealthy business man who provided her with connections to British society. Wallis had found her calling.
***
Thank you fellow Find A Grave contributor for third and final marriage information to honor his wife who is buried head to head with him.
Ed Carlson
Swede
-------------------------
Thank you fellow Find A Grave contributor for second marriage information to honor wife Mariam J. Radford. Mariam did remarry a third time and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
