Edith Pence

Edith Jean Pence (nee Schlueter) passed away peacefully on July 27, 2023 after a brief illness. She was born on June 3, 1936 in Georgetown, Illinois to Carol and Velma Schlueter and was an only child. She spent her formative years in the Kalamazoo area. She graduated from Galesburg-Augusta High School and then attended Western Michigan University where she graduated with a teaching degree. She combined her desire to travel with her teaching background and became a teacher in Japan and then France. There she met her future husband, Jesse Pence, a member of the U.S. Air Force. Over the years the Air Force stationed them in many places, however, her favorites were Colorado Springs and Portugal. After Jesse retired from the Air Force they briefly moved back to the Kalamazoo area before settling in Springfield, Ohio. Jean was very active with the United Senior Services Center in Springfield and took many trips with the group. She was also a member of the tap dancing and hula dancing group and enjoyed performing with them in the local area.

After Jesse passed away, Jean moved to Stuart, Florida where she lived near her daughter, Linda. She continued to travel with the Springfield United Senior Services Center every chance she got by meeting the group on their way to their travel destinations. Jean enjoyed every aspect of traveling and seeing new places was always a passion of hers. She took every opportunity to explore the world and other cultures. She traveled all over the world during her lifetime, including Japan, India, Thailand, Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska and many of the other U.S. states. In 2022, Jean relocated back to Ohio to be near her son Robert. She especially enjoyed going to dinners and shows with her family whenever she had the opportunity.

Jean is survived by her daughter Linda (Chris), her son Robert (Brandy) and her grandchildren Matthew Norton, Alexandra Norton, Shannon Norton, Chase Norton, Pasha Pence and Olya Pence. She will be laid to rest in the cemetery in Augusta, Michigan on August 11, 2023 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations should be made to the Macular Degeneration Foundation, an organization that Jean supported for many years or to St Jude's Children's Hospital, another favorite of hers.