Bruce Harvey Pence

Bruce Harvey Pence, age 92, of Grants Pass, died January 19, 2025 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

Honoring Bruce 

   Bruce Harvey Pence was born at home October 1st, 1932 in San Jose California by Thomas Harvey Pence and Louise Pence. On January 19th, 2025, he passed away peacefully at Asante Hospital in Grants Pass, Oregon. Bruce is survived by his wife: Arlene J Pence, their two sons: Steven Pence and Gerry Pence, four grandsons: Christopher Pence, Nicolas Pence, Jonathan Pence and Sean Pence, and his brother: Robert Pence.

   Bruce grew up in the country in a house purchased from a Sears catalog. His parent had a garden and a few animals that helped feed their family during war times and he often mentioned how his mother was able to give away their ration coupons because they were self-sufficient enough to not need them as much as others. Bruce began working in a small grocery store at the age of twelve where he was given many duties including running the store while the manager was away and walking home at night with the stores till money in a large sack for safe keeping at his home while the boss was away. At seventeen, he joined the Marines with his mother’s permission. Bruce proudly served four years, one of which was in Korea in active duty. In Aril of 1954, he met Arlene and they married in September of that same year. They were unified in holy matrimony for 70 years before his passing. During his life, Bruce spent his career in the grocery retail business for many years. He owned a 7-Eleven store on two separate occasions and worked for Fedmart as a field rep. Bruce retired in 1992, then moved from Los Gatos, CA to Grants Pass, OR, where he remained for the rest of his life. Bruce was very active in local Korean War Veteran organizations and returned to Korea on two separate occasions to participate in ceremonies honoring the Korean War Veterans. He was highly regarded and honored during those times in Korea.

   A ceremony honoring Bruce will ne held January 28th, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the Eagle Point National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed in Bruce’s memory for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.