Pence - Victor - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: Reminescence of Karen Bazzani Zach 3-24-2017

Victor Pence was my neighbor, along with his wife, Zula (Snyder), as I was growing-up in the small town of Waveland, Indiana.  I liked them both very much, but especially Victor.  Such a wonderful man.  He and my dad (Fred Bazzani) had so much in common.  Victor was an Industrial Arts teacher in Clinton County, where he was born on the 22nd of August in 1901 in Rossville.  Oh, and just FYI - dad was born on the 20th so they often celebrated their birthdays together.  

Both dad and Victor (I had to call him Mr. Pence at school but we called them Victor & Zula at home) were builders, and remodellers.  Victor loved kids.  He and Zula had one son, Gordon Duain, who passed away at age 36 hours, at St. Elizabeth Hospital, in Lafayette.  The Pences lived in Lafayette for a few years.  Victor worked at PU as an "air brake tester," but not sure what capacity or job that would be in regards to a state university.  Possibly Maintenance?  He worked there for around 10 years then went to teaching making $1400 in the 1940 census in Rossville as an IA teacher.  He helped dad built our teeter totter, and slide, for sure and possibly our huge tree house.  They were always trading jobs, dad doing their whole house in carpet for him.  

We had lots of picnics outside with them.  Victor loved the out of doors, Zula more an inside person, enjoying crocheting and the like (at least if I remember right).  I was in 4-H just a couple of years.  Mom got frustrated with the first cake I made.  Zula and I worked and worked on perfecting it and I did get a blue ribbon.  She was kind of like my 2nd mom and when Jim & I eloped, she was disappointed she didn't get to help with a big wedding but had such a great recipe shower for me when we married.  I was always sad Victor passed away a couple of years (30 June 1965 - he had cancer and died in Community Hospital in Indianapolis after being there three weeks) before he got to meet Jim. They'd have loved each other.  

I remember Vicki but don't know her last name but she was a niece of one or the other, I think Zula's.  We used to have so much fun together and I couldn't wait for Vick to come each summer for a few days and visit.

Victor was principal at Waveland for probably a half a dozen years in the mid to late 50s.  1959-60 school year was his last and he enjoyed his retirement so much until he got sick early in 1965.  

He was a firm believer that kids needed fruits.  Often, he would order a large amount of juice or fresh fruit and pay for it as the school had such a small funding.  Few people knew that but this endeared him all the more to my father (who, if I know him probably pitched in with the bucks - love you dad).   

A large funeral was held at Waveland and so many people came.  He then I assume either had another funeral or at least rites in the graveyard where he is buried the day before July 4th in Rossville Indiana.  

Zula remained a widow for 14 years, staying in the home at 208 Green Street in Waveland, Indiana.  She was active in church and singing with a woman's group.  I always thought she was such a beautiful woman.

God rest your souls, V&Z !!