William C. Pence

William “Bill” Cicero Pence, age 95 of Knoxville, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, February 19, 2023. He was born on February 16, 1928 in McAdenville NC. Bill graduated from Cramerton High School, Cramerton, NC. where he was a member of the State Championship basketball team both in 1944 & 1945. After serving as a sergeant in the U.S. Army, in Tokyo, Japan in 1947, he graduated from Erskine College, Due West South Carolina in 1952 with a degree in math and physical education. Bill was employed with Burroughs Corp. (currently Unisys Corp.) for 35 years. During this time he worked in four different states and saw the company evolve from adding machines to posting machines and then to main frame computers. Bill has been a member of West Hills Baptist Church since 1964 where he served as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, maintenance technician and Sunday Morning Greeter, which he truly enjoyed. He was an avid fan of football, basketball and baseball, but thoroughly enjoyed the game of golf. Bill is preceded in death by grandparents John Cicero and Annie Shields Pence; mother Mabel Pence Eller; stepfather Grady Ralph Eller; wife of 76 years Martha Sue Craig Pence; brothers, Dick Eller, Robert "Bob" Eller, Keith Eller; sister Sue “Susie” Pendleton; son William Craig Pence; and grandson Paul Andrew Edmunds. Survived by daughter-in-law Patsy Lowe; sons Jon Carlton (Gladys) Pence, Joseph Lee (Mary Ann) Pence; daughter Susan Elizabeth Pence; grandchildren Mary Lisa Pence, Jennifer Leigh (Matt) Beavers, Misty Gale (Joe) Elliott, Sara Elise (Sherif Shabana) Edmunds; great-grandchildren Jordan Alexandra Purkiss, Zoe Sibley, Avery Michele Elliot and Pence Matthew Beavers; brother Joe (Patti) Eller; sisters Martha Ownsby, Janet Edwards; brother-in-law, Butch Pendleton; sister-in-law, Lola Faye Craig; many special nieces, nephews and extended family members. A special thanks to the group at Summit Medical, Amedisys Home Health and Amedisys Hospice group. Family will receive friends at Rose Funeral and Cremation – Mann, 6200 Kingston Pike on Wednesday, March 1st from 12:00-1:00pm. We will meet at East Tennessee State Veteran’s Cemetery, 2200 E. Gov. John Sevier Hwy that afternoon at 2:00pm for the Graveside Service & full military honors, Rev. Drew Prince officiating. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Bill's name may be made at https://donorbox.org/fish-donations or FISH Hospitality Pantries, 800 Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919. Online condolences may be made at rosefuneraltn.com.

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William C. Pence

February 16, 1928 - February 19, 2023