Obituary: David William Pence: Hood River, Hood River Co., Oregon ********************************************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE: ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ********************************************************************************* Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Elizabeth ************************************************************************ PENCE, David William, Hood River (Oregon) Glacier, Thursday, 3 July 1924, p. 2 David William Pence served his country in its great war as lieutenant of motor supply. While stationed on the Mexican border he had pneumonia, ending in tuberculosis. He was discharged, apparently cured, in 1920. He visited his parents, Dr. E. H. Pence, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian church, Portland, and wife, and was married in June of that year by Dr. W. H. Boddy to Miss Ellen K. Shelley at her home in Hood River. After a year in business he entered the University of Washington, having attended Cornell University before the war. Always intense, David's devotion to his studies revived his malady and veteran doctors bade him leave school to fight for his life. The hospital was not a success so Nell and David took up life in the open with the best counsel able doctors could give. For more than two years Mrs. Pence with unexampled devotion as nurse, as well as wife, in all ways attended her beloved husband "till death did them part." His beloved mother, Mrs. E. H. Pence, was her constant help and company in the last months. By April David knew the fight was lost. It takes one form of courage to charge the enemy; it takes another to be staked on the sea shore with the tide coming in. This was David's fate and he met it. He wished to live. Not 31, he could with clear vision see a work in the world (his father's) which in health he never sensed. He craved to be of use. Under the devoted ministrations of his father and his wife, accompanied by his mother's prayers and those of many friends that there "might be light at the end" David came into clear faith in the Savior of the world. In those weeks he developed a tender thought for others and a patience in suffering, which will ever inspire those who knew it. Early morn of June 27, surrounded by those he loved so well, he became "absent from the body, present with the Lord." Saturday morning in his beautiful home among the lovely flowers brought by sorrowing neighbors who had done all they could, the simple service which David had planned was held. Dr. Pence read the wonderful Scripture. Father Shelley prayed. "The Valley of Peace" was sung by one who "stood by at the end." Then all sang "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" and the boys of the American Legion bore out this mortal body to go over the Columbia River highway to the Portland Crematorium. There Chaplain Gilbert read the burial service and Dr. Bowman prayed. His wife, family and friends accompanied the body to Portland. Thank God for answered prayers. Being dead he yet speaks of victory.