Jackie Durward Bence

© Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, OK

1994

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

Funeral services for Jackie Durward Bence, pastor of the Hammon United Methodist Church, was held December 16, 1994 in the Dill City United Methodist Church.

Jackie Durward Bence was born September 5, 1935 in Dill City to Clemon and Verna Mae Milner Bench.

He graduated from Dill City high school in 1954. He attended OSU and finished his formal education at Southwestern University at Weatherford. He entered Perkins School of Technology in Dallas, Texas and was ordained as a Methodist Minister.

He came to the Hammon United Methodist Church in June 1994. He taught school in the Dity public school for a year. He became manager of the Dill City Co-op Gin. Being bivocational while at Rocky he was a minister of the Deer Creek Church and following that assignment he served at Rocky 13 years. He was assigned to the Arkoma-Pocola church for 4 years and then in 1987 he went to Fairland-Wyndotte Church, then to Talihina.

His interest in community activities include Civic Clubs, AARP, School sporting activities and scholastic endeavors. He was instrumental in the organization of the Dill City Alumnis.

He is survived by his mother, Verna Mae Bence of Oklahoma City, two brothers, Rev. Don V. Bence and his wife Bonny and Verlon Bence and his wife Bonny all of Oklahoma City; several nieces and nephews, Kris Bence, Kevin Bence, Tim and Jolee Bence, Kevan and Charlotte Bence, all of Oklahoma City, Randy and Sandi Bence of Staton Island, New York, and a grandniece, Rebekah Bence of Oklahoma City, a special friend Helen McCann of Ft. Smith, AR and her son.

Burial was in the South Burns Cemetery in Dill City Oklahoma.