Judith Ann Pence

Judith Ann Pence died peacefully May 5, 2026.  She had just celebrated her 80^th birthday.

Judy grew up on a farm near Frankfort – but her life and career took her to Peoria, Park Ridge (Chicago) and ultimately to Lafayette.

She married her Purdue sweetheart, Paul Pence, in 1968 – following graduation from Purdue with a degree in Humanities.

Judy’s retail and merchandising career started during her college years when she worked in the women’s department at Loeb’s in Lafayette.  She loved serving customers.  She loved the whole buying and selling environment.  In Peoria, she started her career in retailing with Carson Pirie Scott & Company.  Then in Chicago, she moved into the buying world with Weiboldt’s – and later served as buyer and assistant manager at the Marshall Field’s Chicago State Street Store – where her role saw her travel extensively on buying trips.  Her final professional step was as Store Manager for Marshall Field’s in Evanston, Illinois.  An esteemed career.

In retirement, she and Paul loved road trips … ultimately visiting all of the lower 48-States … almost always planned around delivering or picking up a classic car.  A highlight of each trip was a new National Park adventure.

She loved “Scotty” dogs including all forms of collectibles.

Judy’s final few years were difficult as she struggled with Parkinsons’s.  But her mind was always especially sharp – her kindness never faltering.

As a young believer, in High School she served as a Sunday School teacher at Hillisburg United Methodist Church.  She’s now with her Savior.

Judy will be remembered as someone incredibly talented and special … one who was a loving wife and wonderful friend … always outgoing and engaging.  In her own special way, she was both sweet and quite grand.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph & Mona Imler (Frankfort – West Lafayette).  She is survived by her husband, Paul Pence, her bother-in-law, Hugh Pence (Lafayette) and sister-in-law, Karen Pence (Manhattan, Kansas) – and loving nieces and nephews, Mary Pence (Oakhurst, California), Greg Pence (Fresno, California), Jeff & Corinne Pence (Lafayette, Indiana), Jeff & Julie Minner (Indianapolis, Indiana), Art & Jeanette Weaver (Visalia, California), and Nick & Suzanne Photakis (Fullerton, California).

Cards are welcome.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in support of Parkinson’s research at Purdue to Purdue’s Institute for Integrative Neuroscience. 

A private service will be held for the family.  Funeral arrangements are by Soller Baker (www.soller-baker.com).