Darla Jean Luke passed on December 28, 2022, at the Autumn Lake Healthcare Facility in Glen Burnie, Maryland. She was born in November 1947 in Newport News, Virginia to Grace and Ormand Haughwout. She is survived by her son, John Spencer, Jr, daughter-in-law, Jennifer Spencer, 2 grandchildren, Lara Spencer and Logan Spencer, and her brother and sister-in-law, William Haughwout and Barbara Haughwout. She is predeceased by her brothers, Buddy Haughwout and Cliff Haughwout, and her parents. Darla was a talented artist who helped in set design with the Fells Point Corner Theater and had her art featured at the Fells Point Gallery. She lived her remaining years in the Baltimore area.
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Darla graduated from Kecoughtan High School, Hampton, Virginia. She married John (Jack) Elliott Spencer in December 1965, and had one child, Johnny Spencer. Darla and John divorced in December 1981. He died 3 Dec 2020, in Chester, Virginia.

Darla studied at Christopher Newport University and at Savannah College of Art and Design. She studied CAD design, CATIA 3Dmodeling and CADAM 2D design at Wichita University.

In 1982, Darla was employed by John J. McMullen & Associates, a marine design firm. She met Joseph Michael Luke there. They married in 1989 and traveled the US while he did work as an aircraft structural designer. They divorced but remained friends. Joe died 15 Nov 2022, in Hampton, Virginia.

Darla was an established artist and owner of Luke Creative Artworks in Maryland.