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John B. Speer, 87, also known as Jack, died at home, Saturday, June 28, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Myrtle Ruth Speer; daughter, Margaret Ann Abercrombie both of Albuquerque; son, Edward Speer and wife, Debra of Redding, CA; grandchildren, Jessica and Joseph Abercrombie of Corrales and Sierra and Cameron Speer of Redding, CA; sister, Martha Eskridge of Tulsa; nieces and nephews, Judy Ferguson, Walter Eskridge, Marian Sexton, James Paul Speer III, Ann Ashliman, Jeffrey Speer and George Speer; sisters-in-law, Dikki Speer of Alpine, TX and Helen Mitchell; brother-in-law, Robert Cox of Eugene, OR; and Swiss exchange student, Tom Flueler. Jack was preceded in death by his brothers, James Paul Speer II and Louis Kincaid Speer. He received his B.A. degree from George Washington University and after WWII his LLB from the University of Washington. During WWII he worked for the Lend Lease Administration as an administrative aide for the American Food Mission to French North Africa. During his lifetime, he was a registered parlia mentarian; wrote a history of early science fiction fandom and the Fancyclopedia; and created a true-to-history civil war game. He was called "one of the pioneer historians of fandom," by SF author Harry L. Warner, Jr. Jack was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Albuquerque Parliamentary Unit, the Science Fiction Society, the N.M. Space Society, New Mexicans for Science & Reason, Tennis Club of Albuquerque and the Exchange Club. Services will be held Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 10:30 a.m. at French Mortuary, University Chapel. Interment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333 www.frenchmortuary.com
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