Betty Pence

Betty M. Pence, 88, a resident of rural Churubusco and widow of Roger L. Pence, passed away at 12:04 p. m. on Sunday, April 3, 2011, at the Provena Sacred Heart Home in Avilla following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Pence was born in Huntertown on November 9, 1922, a daughter of Hugh and Geneva Ruth (Lochner) Drake.e She spent most of her formative years in Waterloo, and after moving to St. Joe with her parents, graduated from St. Joe High School.e A 1946 graduate of the Indiana University School of Nursing, she was employed as a nurse at St. Joseph Hospital, and later worked as the company nurse for the S. S. Kresge Company in Fort Wayne. On May 23, 1951 she was united in marriage in Fort Wayne to Roger L. Pence.e The couple lived all of their married lives on the family farm in Smith Township where she was a homemaker and assisted her husband on their farm.e She had served as a volunteer for the American Red Cross blood bank for many years, and had also been a representative for Shaklee.e In addition, she was a member of the Smith Township Homemakers. Mr. Pence preceded her in death on June 3, 2002. The surviving relatives include her daughter Debra (Ron) Rohrer of Churubusco; her son Jim Pence of Churubusco; a sister Leona Wysong of Wawaka; and two grandchildren Joseph Pence and Sara Pence. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother Frank Drake; and by a sister Bernice Strong. Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Friday, April 8, 2009, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Corinne K. Boruff, pastor of Churubusco United Methodist Church, officiating. The family will receive friends from 2 to 8 p. m. on Thursday at the mortuary. Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the American Red Cross, 1212 E. California Road, Fort Wayne, INe 46825 ***************************************