Mildred Steele Pence

Mrs. Mildred Steele Pence died July 25, 2012 at Autumn Care of Statesville. She was born September 14, 1918 in Rowan County and was the daughter of the late Dick N. Steele and Addie Knox Steele. She was married to Furman William Pence who passed away April 10, 1964.

Mildred was a long time member of Race Street United Methodist Church and served on the Kitchen Committee, and was an active member of the United Methodist Women. She was a partner and manager of Troutman's Care for twenty five years. During this time, she became friends with many of her customers. She continued to speak of them like they were family. It pleased her to continue to use her skills in Statesville's newly organized Soup Kitchen and American Red Cross, and in the kitchen of Race Street United Methodist Church. She served several terms on the Widowed Persons Organization of Statesville, and served as its first president. She was very active in her church, and was a member of the Annie Aderholt Circle and President of the Fidelis Bible Class.

Mrs. Pence is survived by two sons: Furman W. Pence, Jr. of Mooresville and Bob Steele Pence of Waterboro, S.C.; six granchildren: Robin Johnson, Scott Pence, Debbie Dube, Ann Solazzo, Rebecca Pence, and Robert Pence. She enjoyed nine great-grandchildren along with one great-great-grandchild. In 1980 she became a companion and caregiver for Mrs. Opal Churchill, and continued caring for many sick and elderly until she began having her own health problems. A broken hip required she enter a rest home, Autumn Care of Statesville. In addition to her husband, Mildred was preceded in death by sisters: Blanche Reitzel, Dorothy Shell, and Evelyn Llewellyn and brothers: Ray Steele and Kenneth F. Steele.

Funeral Services celebrating Mildred's life will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Westmoreland Chapel of Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home with the Rev. Steve Snipes officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Iredell Memorial Gardens.

For those who prefer, memorials may be given to: Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Rd., Statesville, NC 28625; Oakland Presbyterian Church, 531 N. Oakland Ave., Statesville, NC 28625; or to the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, 725 E. Broad St., Durham, NC 27705, Attention: Anita Harrison.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com

The family would like to thank her many friends who frequently checked on her and were there to assist her. They would also like to thank the support group of the Widowed Person's Organization.