Joe Pence

Joe was born on February 11, 1943 at home in Bethany, Kentucky to Easom Pence and Carrie Elkins-Pence. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on April 27, 2025 after a lengthy battle with a lung disease. He was the 9th of 10 children. Arnold Pence, Elmer Pence, Ray Pence Russell Pence, Reese Pence, Golden Bentley, Charles Pence,Easom Pence Jr., (Joe Pence), Mildred Mohl, Cousin Zachary Harold Pence (like his brother).

He is survived by: his beautiful, loving wife, Clema Helen Pence, (son) Joe Pence Jr. (wife Terri Pence), daughter, Chrystal Michelle Stavrinos (husband Alex Stavrinos)

Five grandchildren: Amanda Jo-Ann Pence (Jesse McCoppin), Joe Pence III (wife Hannah Pence), Colton Joseph Pence, Lauren Eleftheria Davis (husband Alex Davis), Victoria Helena Nicole Stavrinos.

Nine great grandchildren: Hayden James McCoppin, Tucker Joseph Pence, Hazel Alizabeth Pence, Isabella Rae June Pence, MJ Stavrinos, Benjamin Allen McCoppin, Riley Lee Pence, Nikolas Aleksander Davis and soon to arrive: Theodore Lee Joseph McCoppin, and many other nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

He served three years in the United States Army. He was stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, Friedberg West Germany, and finally at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He achieved the rank of specialist fourth class. His last assignment at Fort Knox he worked in the armory maintaining weapons. He also worked at the range, maintaining range machine guns, and would fly on Huey helicopters to test the guns.

He came home on weekend leave on a Greyhound bus in his army uniform. He walked into Sewell’s Restaurant and asked the waitress (Helen) for a cheeseburger, and a waitress to go. He married the love of his life (Helen Hatton) on February 22, 1964.

In 1964, he got a job working for the railroad which he only work for two weeks, due to his brothers Arnold, Reese, and Eason Jr. telling him that he needed to apply where they all worked, at Chrysler air temp. He applied and was hired on the spot. He worked at a gas station part time for a few months when he first started at Chrysler for extra money. He worked at Chrysler for 13 years, the first two years on the production line and the last 11 as a foreman supervising several production lines. Chrysler sold out to Fedders and they wanted to keep him as a supervisor, but that meant that he would have to relocate to Bowling Green Kentucky. He declined the offer and took that time to attend Green County vocational school to get certified in HVAC and refrigeration.

He worked out of his home garage repairing and selling appliances, he often had help from his brother Charles until he was able to open Pence appliances on E. 3rd St. in Dayton, April 6, 1977. He spent 43 years doing that job that he loved.

His son, Joe Pence Jr. was a Dayton police officer for 31 years. They both started their careers on the same day, April 6. Joe, Helen and their son all retired on the same day, September 20, 2020. He never met a stranger and would laugh and joke with everyone. To those that knew him well, he was known as “ The Mayor of E. Third St.”

In the end, he told us don’t cry for me. I’ve lived a great life of 82 years with a wonderful family and so many good memories and I have no regrets or complaints. He said,”I want you guys to go on and have a happy life like I did and I hope you enjoy your families for years. Family is the most important thing in life.”

He will be forever, loved and missed… Always in our hearts… Until we see him again.

A funeral service will be held on Friday May 2, 2025 at 4:00 P.M. at the Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, 422 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., Fairborn, Pastor H. Wesley Barnhill officiating.  The family will receive friends from 3:00 P.M. until the time of service.  Joe will be laid to rest with military honors at Byron Cemetery.