On May 31, 2014, John Wilson Pence, 57, of Largo, Florida lost his valiant one-year battle against brain cancer.
John was born in Roanoke, Virginia on March 7, 1957. He graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, Virginia in 1975. He received a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1979 and an MBA from Colorado State University in 1982.
John was nationally respected as an innovative leader in the mail order marketing field, having begun his career as Manager of Advertising for Neiman Marcus Mail Order in Dallas, Texas. He then became Vice President of Marketing at the Stuart McGuire Company in Salem, Virginia, after which he was the founding President of Home Shopping Network Mail Order, Inc., in St. Petersburg, Florida. John then went on to become President of Speer Merchandising in Nashville, Tennessee, a division of Speer Communications, Ltd. From there, John went on to become Chief Operating Officer of Life Science Technologies in Clearwater, Florida and then co-founded USA Pharmacal Sales, Inc. in Palm Harbor, Florida.
Always a lover of the outdoors and a master of building things, John traded in his suit and tie for the general contracting world and founded Built Rite USA in Clearwater, Florida, where he remained President until his diagnosis in June 2013.
John is survived by his sons Thomas John Pence and Benjamin Wilson Pence, and their mother and his former wife, Lisa Tadie Pence, all of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Caleb Richard Pence, and his mother and John's significant other, Marianne McAlister, of Largo, Florida. John is also survived by his stepfather, E. Cabell Brand, of Salem, Virginia; his stepmother, Elizabeth Pence of Roanoke, Virginia; his sisters Sylvia Brand Knaup (Gunther) of Nashville, Tennessee; Miriam Brand Kline (John) of Richmond, Virginia; Liza Pence Urso of Dallas, Texas and Caroline Brand Mateja (Brian) of Charlottesville, Virginia; his stepbrothers Chip Cody (Joyce) of New Hampshire and Bruce Cody (Donna) of Roanoke, Virginia; numerous loving nieces and nephews; special cousin Virginia Johnson of Washington, D.C. and countless friends.
John was predeceased by his mother, Shirley Hurt Brand; his father, Richard Franklin Pence; and his brothers Richard Franklin Pence, Jr. (Susan); Edward Cabell Brand, Jr.; and Marshall Cabell Brand.
Memorial services will be held at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church in Roanoke, Virginia at 11 am July 12, 2014. A reception will be held immediately following in the church fellowship hall. Private burial will be in Evergreen Burial Park, Roanoke. The family will receive friends Friday, July 11, 2014 from 5 to 7 pm at John M. Oakey and Son, Salem.
Remembrances may be made in John's name to Suncoast Hospice, 5771 Roosevelt Boulevard, Clearwater, Florida 33760 or to the Shirley Brand Memorial Fund at Feeding America Southwest Virginia, 1025 Electric Road, Salem, Va. 24153.First Visitation
Friday, July 11th, 2014 5:00pm - 7:00pm,
John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home
305 Roanoke Boulevard
Salem, Virginia 24153
Second Visitation
Saturday, July 12th, 2014 11:00am - 1:00pm,
Greene United Methodist Church
402 Second Street SW
Roanoke, VA 24011
Following the services.
Service Information
Saturday, July 12th, 2014 11:00am,
Greene Memorial United Methodist Church
402 Second Street SW
Roanoke, VA 24011
Interment Location
Evergreen Burial Park
1307 Summit Ave SW
Roanoke, VA 24015
