Obituaries - 2009

Dick R. Pence

Mr. Dick R. Pence, 82, of Dallas City, Illinois died at 945 a.m. Sunday, March 22, 2009 at the Oak Lane Nursing and Rehab Center in Stronghurst, Illinois.

He was born November 30, 1926 in Dallas City, the son of Virgil and Ethel Mae Dickson Pence. On October 26, 1947 he married Shirley J. Miller in Dallas City.

Mr. Pence had farmed for many years near Dallas City. He graduated from Dallas City High School in 1944 and was a graduate of Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, Illinois. He then served in the Air Force Reserves. Prior to his marriage he had worked for Westinghouse Corporation in Peoria. In 1949, he moved his family to the family farm, where they raised their three children. He was member, and had served as Deacon and Elder of the Dallas City First Christian Church. He was very devoted to his family and church. He enjoyed fishing, square dancing, and painting rocks to look like lady-bugs. He attended many craft shows and was known as the "Lady-Bug Man".

Surviving are his wife, two daughters, Pam (Otho) Tate and Kathy (Had) Gracey all of Dallas City, one son, Randy Pence of Phoenix, Arizona, four grandchildren, Aaron (DeAnn) Tate, Matthew (Lisa) Tate, Daniel (Jennifer) Gracey and Jerred (Lindsey Feigert) Gracey, six great-grandchildren- Brockton, Carly, Koben, and Logan Tate, Isabella and Madilynn Gracey, and one brother, Quinn (Nancy) Pence of Dallas City.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister in infancy, Bonnie Jo Pence.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday March 25, 2009 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City with Rev. Larry Menschel officiating. Burial with military rites will be in the Harris Cemetery, near Dallas City . Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials have been established for the Dallas City first Christian Church, Oak Lane Nursing & Rehab, and the Lomax Ambulance Service. Send a condolence here.