Otto V. Pence

Otto Vernon Pence (1882 – October 31, 1936) was an American politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates.[1]

Otto V. Pence
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Shenandoah County
In office
1916–1920
Preceded byC. O. Miller
Succeeded byJ. Homer Copp
Personal details
Born
Otto Vernon Pence

1882 (1882)
Shenandoah County, Virginia, U.S.
Died1936 (aged 53–54)
Roanoke County, Virginia
Resting placeSager Cemetery, Alonzaville, Shenandoah County
Political partyRepublican

Early life

Otto Vernon Pence was born in 1882, one of three sons born to Jacob and Sarah (Painter) Pence, residents of Timberville before moving to Shenandoah County, where Otto was born.[2]

His father, a widower of three years, was found shot dead on June 4, 1931, at the age of 74. He had been ploughing corn on his son's farm three miles west of Woodstock, and was found by a grandson, Billie Pence, lying next to a .22 calibre rifle. A coroner's investigation could not determine whether or not it was an accident.[3]

Otto had two brothers,[3] one of whom predeceased Otto. The other, Walter Pence, survived Otto.[4]

Career

Pence served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing Shenandoah County.[4] In November 1919, he was elected County Clerk for Shenandoah.[5]

In 1926, he was elected to the board of directors for the Shenandoah Valley Estates.[6] He served as commonwealth's attorney in Shenandoah County for eight years, and studied law while in this position.[7]

On September 20, 1933,[7] he was made Deputy Clerk of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, working in Roanoke County.[2][4] The previous Deputy Clerk, Frank H. Hall, had jumped to his death the previous week.[7]

Personal life

He married Eva Lena Peirsel of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.[2] They had at least two children: Jay Peirsel Pence and William G. Pence.[4] On June 23, 1948, Jay married Helen Avis Grimm.[8]

On October 31, 1936, he died at his home in Roanoke County. His funeral was held three days later at Woodstock Lutheran Church,[2] and he was buried in Massanutten Cemetery.[4]

He was a Freemason, and had Masonic rites performed at his funeral.[9]

References
  1. Swem, Earl G. (1918). Register of the General Assembly of Virginia, 1776–1918. Richmond: Virginia State Library. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  2. "Otto V. Pence". The News Leader. November 3, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  3. "Man Found Shot to Death in Cornfield". The News Leader. June 6, 1931. p. 7. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  4. "O. V. Pence, Court Aid, Succumbs at Roanoake". The Times Dispatch. November 1, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  5. "Republican Ticket with Lone Exception Wins in Shenandoah". The News Leader. November 6, 1919. p. 1. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  6. "Pence is a Valley Estates Director". The News Leader. November 18, 1926. p. 3. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  7. "Woodstock Man Given Court Post". The News Leader. September 21, 1933. p. 2. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  8. "Miss Grimm Becomes Bride, Of Mr. Pence". The Times Dispatch. July 2, 1948. p. 28. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  9. "Funeral of O. V. Pence is Held at Woodstock". The Times Dispatch. November 4, 1936. p. 8. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
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