Geraldine Kuehmsted Spencer

AIKEN, SC -- Geraldine Kuehmsted Spencer of Aiken, SC died this past Saturday night, March 17, 2007. She was 88 years old. She was the only child of Ruth and Renfrew Kuehmsted of Neenah, WI Ged - as she was known to family and friends alike - was born on December 8, 1918 in the tiny suburb of Chicago known as Ravinia. She spent her childhood there, though she spent her summers with her grandparents in the small town of Neenah, several hours north of the city. When she was still a girl, the family moved to Neenah permanently and it was there that she discovered her lifelong passion for horses as well as her love of all animals of the open countryside. While still a teenager she was hired to care for and train horses belonging to members of the community. After her marriage to Selden Palmer Spencer, she remained in Neenah. They lived on a small farm outside of town where she continued to ride, though she also became deeply involved with volunteer work at the local hospital. After her husbands death, she moved to Aiken in 1979. She purchased Fairlane Farm, and with her daughter Holly ran it as a highly respected horse boarding facility. Ged quickly became a much-loved member of the community. She is survived by Holly, and her son Stuart of New York City; and by her son-in-law Doug Bliesath of Statesboro, GA, husband of her late daughter Lissa, and by her two beloved granddaughters, Jessie and Sarah. Also by several cousins; Barbara Verbrick and her husband Paul of Aiken; Peter Verbrick of Columbia, SC and his two children Davis and alice; Kristen Pramack and her husband Karl of Silver Springs, MD, and their child Maia; Porter M. Thompson of Hilton Head Island, SC and his daughter Hilary of Bluffton, SC. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, charitable conations be made to SPCA. The family will hold a private service, but friends are welcomed to a visitation this Thursday, March 22 from 7 to 7:30 PM at Fairlane Farm. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Geraldine Kuehmsted Spencer, please visit our flower store.