Spencer "Sonny" Sylvester Souder

Spencer “Sonny” Sylvester Souder of Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee, age 78, went to be with Jesus our Lord and Savior on November 5th, 2024, after a long fight with cancer due to his military service-connected disabilities. As he wanted, he passed away at home with his wife beside him. He faithfully attended Pleasant Home Baptist Church where he loved his pastor, Greg and Sherry Blackburn, and his church family dearly.

A proud Vietnam veteran, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Spencer, or Sonny, as he was fondly known, was born in Bergton, Virginia, on June 15th, 1946, to Waldo Welton Souder and Francis Combs Souder.  As a young child, Spencer lived in Mathias, West Virginia, situated near Lost River State Park in the Appalachian Mountains.

A truck driver his entire life, he started his career as a young man delivering oil to local homes. His trucking buddies knew him by his CB handle, Doc Holiday.  Sonny took pride in the various tractor-trailers he drove throughout this country, so much so that he enlisted his wife and children to help with the maintenance and washing of each one!

He was drafted in the United States Army in 1966 and was honorably discharged in 1968.  He proudly served during the Vietnam War as a truck driver with the 10th Transportation Corps. His daughter, Tammy, continued the family tradition of serving in the military as she served in the United States Army for 16-1/2 years.

After his discharge from the Army, Sonny married Catherine Quinn in Elkton, Maryland, on August 12th, 1968.  They had 4 children:  Spencer Jr., Steven, Clay, and Tammy. Sonny moved his city-girl wife and children to the mountains of East Tennessee, Laurel Bloomery, in August 1978, where he called home the remainder of his life.

He was an avid hunter and award-winning marksman. Sonny enjoyed spending time with his nephew, Eddie, in West Virginia each year to find his trophy ‘Big Buck’.  As part of each of these trips, he would make it a point to  visit numerous relatives and friends.  During his battle with cancer, he enjoyed the friendship and encouragement from his buddy, Pat.

A gifted problem solver, he especially enjoyed working on his vehicles and trucks, along with his son, Chopper, who is a self-employed truck driver. He loved discussing the automotive projects that his son Steve manages at his workplace, as Sonny was very knowledgeable about the inner workings of automobiles.  Another favorite pastime was riding Harley Davidson motorcycles with his special friend, Jesse.

His pride and joy, though, were his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He was known as Pop-pop and Grand-dad to them, enjoying the time spent and providing words of wisdom to each of them.  Pop-pop took pride in giving each one their own personal nickname!

He is survived by his wife, Cathy Souder, with whom he enjoyed life together tremendously for 56 years.  She loved him greatly, and faithfully cared for him throughout his battle with cancer.

He is also survived by three sons and daughters-in-law: Charles Turner of Sugar Grove, West Virginia; Steven (Julie) Souder of Newport; Clay “Chopper”(Joey) Souder of Mountain City; and one daughter, Tammy (Terry) Souder of Clarksville; five grandchildren, Timothy Turner of Sugar Grove, West Virginia; Mackenzie Souder of Franklin; Sydney Souder of Tucson, Arizona; Kayla Souder of Clarksville; and Karlie Souder of Nashville; and four great grandchildren: T.J., Cameron, Colton, and Bryant Turner of Sugar Grove, West Virginia; four brothers, Welton ‘Buck’ Souder, Randall Morris, Jamie Morris, and Rodney Bennett; two sisters, Myrna Combs and Gleitha Lucinda Morris; and numerous nephews and nieces.

He is preceded in death by his son, Spencer Sylvester Souder, Jr; seven sisters, Betty Souder, Diane Souder, Brenda Carson, Shelby Myers, Evelyn Gibson, Patsy Thorne, and Bonnie Ellis.

Sonny was revered and respected by family and friends afar for the way he prioritized those dearest to him:  God first, family next, then his country.  He loved sharing his love for God, family, and country with all he met throughout his amazing life.

Special thank you to the Amedysis hospice team, especially Laura Como; Mountain Home Veterans facility and the Community Living Center, Johnson City Medical Center, and all of his doctors and nurses.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Johnson County Cancer Group c/o Flo Bellamy, Mountain City/Johnson County Community Center, 214 College Street, Mountain City, TN, 37683.

A funeral service for Sonny will be conducted at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at Hux & Lipford Funeral Home with Greg Blackburn officiating.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 am - 11:00 am prior to the service.  A graveside service and interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park with military honors accorded by the Johnson County Honor Guard.

Pallbearers will be Clay “Chopper” Souder, Steve Souder, Tammy Souder, Pat McNamara, Eddie Thorne and Billy Icenhour.

Honorary pallbearers are Welton ‘Buck’ Souder, Jesse Walsh, Gary Gentry and Clarence Showalter.

Online condolences and memories may be sent to the family at www.huxlipfordfh.com .

Hux & Lipford Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Sonny Souder.