Mabel S. Pence

Mabel (Smith) Pence, 89, of Eaton, Ohio, passed away Sunday evening, Dec. 4, 2011, at Vancrest Health Care Center, where she had resided for several years in Assisted Living until being hospitalized several months ago. She was born March 10, 1922, near Loretto, Kentucky, the daughter of James C. and Alma (Sympson) Smith, and the family moved to Ohio in 1928. She married Meryl D. Pence on Nov. 12, 1940, and they celebrated nearly 64 years of marriage prior to his death in September 2004. The couple farmed for many years on the Pence Century Farm homestead, which had been the home for four generations of Pences. Mabel was a member of Wares Chapel United Methodist Church. She was employed in fashions at Sears in Richmond, Indiana, for a number of years. In addition, she was an avid vegetable gardener, and enjoyed planting and tending the many flowers around her home. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; her father- and mother-in-law, George and Hazel Pence; three sisters, Etta “Toots” Brooks, Lula Floyd and Nora Hardin; three brothers, infant James Smith, Reuben Smith and Jesse Smith; and an infant great-grandson, Nathan Grimshaw. She is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn “Jeanie” and Mike Smith of Sandy, Oregon, Patricia and Tom Powell of West Alexandria, Ohio, and Cynthia and Tim Barker of Palm City, Florida; nine grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jack Smith and Earl Smith, both of Eaton; two sisters, Nellie Fudge and Ruth Williams, both of Eaton; many nieces and nephews; and numerous other family members. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at Girton Schmidt & Boucher Gard Funeral Home, 226 W. Main St., Eaton, with Pastor Ty Williams officiating. The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Zion Cemetery, north of Eaton. Memorial contributions may be made to Monroe Township Food Bank, 1060 Foos Road, West Manchester, OH 45382, or to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH 45420. The family is grateful to Vancrest Health Care Center and Hospice of Dayton for their kind and loving care.