Thomas Otis Pence

Thomas Otis Pence, 87, was born in Payette, Idaho, on June 28, 1930. His father, Otis Marcellus Pence, had gone to Idaho to farm apples with his uncle around 1926. There he met Winifred White, and a romance blossomed. They were married in 1928 and Otis Marcellus Pence, Jr. (Tom) was born in 1930. His parents went broke in 1935 in the depths of the Great Depression and moved back to the Parker area. They settled in a small three-room house without electricity on the south side of the main Wapato Canal. They survived with hard work and were able to pay off the 18 acre orchard by 1942. In 1943, his parents purchased a larger orchard on the Yakima River just below the Wapato Project Dam. They now had a much larger house and electricity. Otis Jr. graduated from the eighth grade at Parker School. Otis Sr. also went to Parker Grade School as did Tom's three children. Parker was a separate school district in those days, so his parents decided to send him to school in Yakima because he could ride with a neighbor, Bob Redman. A birth certificate was needed when he enrolled in the Yakima School System, and his parents found out that his birth was never recorded. He was delivered by an elderly mid-wife, and she forgot to record his arrival. By this time, his parents decided having a Jr. in the family might get confusing as time passed. So he had the option of choosing his own name when he was fourteen years old. He chose the name Thomas Otis Pence when he went to Franklin Jr. High School in Yakima. His new friends had no trouble with the name, but he did for a few months since it was new to him.

He graduated from Yakima Senior High in 1948 and went on to the University of Washington, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta. He graduated in 1952. The Korean War was going on at this time, and he had taken ROTC for four years. So the Air Force sent him to Victorville, California for indoctrination and then to EI Paso, Texas to the 1st Tow Target Squadron. He served his two years and was honorably discharged as a First lieutenant. He met lieutenant Stella Margavich, who was an Air Force nurse from Pennsylvania. They married after her Air Force commitment was completed.

Tom came back to meticulously farm high quality fruit with his father on some of the same land that his father grew up on. Then came the children: Kathy Jo Kelson (Terry), Stacy Lorraine Gellerson (Tim), and Bert Otis Pence (Sharon). Tom and Stella divorced in 2004 and remained friends. Tom married Jacky Patnode in late 2005 and acquired two very nice step children, Mike Patnode (Linda), and Shelly Knapp.

Tom and Jacky both felt very blessed by the fact that each one was warmly received into the other's family circle. They enjoyed many adventures into foreign lands during their time together. Tom lived in the same house, which was built by his great uncle, for over 62 years. It was surrounded by the ranch that he loved and farmed for so many of those years.

Tom was active in fruit growing organizations. He was a board member of the Washington State Horticultural Assn., and a board member of the Cherry Institute. He was the Cherry King in 1987. He was a past president of the Yakima Pom. Club, a past president of the Yakima Aero Club, and a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Yakima, where he ushered at the 11:00 service for over thirty years.

He had eight grandchildren: Kasey Kelson, Brianne Kelson, Alyssa Toms (Ian), Andrea Valicoff, Brett Valicoff (Brittany), Julia Valicoff, Adam Pence (Alex), and Jaryl Pence. He had four great grandchildren: Kelson and Sharlyse Johansing and Isla and Ivan Toms. Tom also leaves behind his special cousin, Roland Whitely.

Our family wanted to add to his obituary because there was so much more to Tom as a father, husband, grandfather and friend. Pop-Pop, as we liked to call him, loved to spend time hunting and fishing and created so many wonderful memories with family and friends with trips to Alaska and Twin Lakes, as well as Idaho, Montana, Canada and New Mexico. Bert and Pop-Pop spent many a morning sharing a duck blind at their duck club trying to convince the ducks and geese to come their way. Tom was very generous and brightened the days of friends with hand delivered, delicious fruit. He enjoyed meeting weekly for coffee and conversation with his special group of close friends. Pop-Pop loved his family very deeply and always wanted the best for them. Family get-togethers were cherished, especially our annual trip to Cannon Beach. He was always ready to offer his love and guidance. Sometimes that guidance came in the form of an invitation to what became known as "Lunch with Dad" which usually made us shake in our boots because we knew we were in for a little tune-up! His love and big heart will be missed tremendously. But we find comfort in knowing he is in a better place and free from pain and worry.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved son-in-law, Terry Kelson.

A Memorial Service will be held at Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church in Yakima (9 South s" Avenue) on Friday, October 27, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. A private inurnment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tom's name through Keith and Keith Funeral Home to the Yakima County Sheriff's Office Water Rescue and Dive Team as a very special thank you for their compassion and professionalism in handling this difficult situation.

Arrangements are provided by Keith and Keith Funeral Home. To share a memory of Tom and celebrate his life, please visit www.keithandkeith.com