Ray Spencer was born on July 20, 1969, in Florida. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on June 13, 1989, and completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, in August 1989. A1C Spencer next attended Air Surveillance Technician training at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, and then E-3 Sentry Air Surveillance Technician training at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, before serving as an E-3 air surveillance technician with the 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron at Tinker from July 1990 to December 1992. His next assignment was as an E-3 Air Surveillance Technician and Instructor Air Surveillance Technician with the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, from January 1993 until he was killed in the crash of an E-3B Sentry (Call Sign "Yukla 27") shortly after takeoff from Elmendorf AFB on September 22, 1995. Ray Spencer was buried at the Magnolia Cemetery in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.

His 2nd Aerial Achievement Medal Citation reads:

Staff Sergeant Raymond O. Spencer, Jr., distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while participating in sustained aerial flight as Airborne Warning and Control System Air Surveillance Technician in the Middle East and Korean theaters, from 5 April 1991 to 8 August 1995. During this period, the airmanship and courage exhibited by Sergeant Spencer in the successful accomplishment of 20 important command, control, and surveillance missions in the Middle East and Korea, under potentially hazardous conditions, demonstrated his outstanding proficiency and steadfast devotion to duty. The professional ability and outstanding aerial accomplishments of Sergeant Spencer reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.