BIO: Bruce BENCE, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Dave Wilson <davwilson@worldnet.att.net> Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************************** __________________________________________________________ McElroy, James Thomas Jr., McElroy's Family Memories, Huntingdon, PA: (Author), 1930, page 21. __________________________________________________________ BRUCE BENCE Shirleysburg, Pa. Chief Engineer: Born at Three Springs, Pa., Jan. 18, 1874. A son of Patrick Henry Bence, a Civil War veteran of 202nd Penna. Vol. Inf.; he was a cabinetmaker, who died in 1895, at the age of fifty-seven. His wife was Frances Heeter, a sister of Ex-Associate Judge Adam Heeter. She died in 1913, at the age of sixty-six. Bruce Bence received his education at Three Springs. He was Justice of the Peace for thirteen years at Three Springs, Pa. Was for thirteen years in furniture business at Three Springs, Pa., and for one year, 1893, a clerk in office at Bellwood, Pa, for the Penna. R.R. For the past twenty-one years has been chief engineer at the Aughwick Pumping Station; has been there since plant started, upon the completion of the plant. The Ohio Oil Co. first began operation, then taken over by the Illinois pipe line, and at present time by the Tuscarora Oil Co. Mr. Bence belongs to the Methodist Church; wife also. He is a Trustee and Treasurer of the Board, and served on School Board and election board at Three Springs. Clerk on Council and as Councilman; member of the Masonic fraternity, Mt. Union, No. 688. A Shriner, Jaffa Temple, Altoona, Pa; Harrisburg Consistory. A Republican. He has two sisters: Anna B., Keffer, Montgomery Co., Pa.; Margaret J. Bawden, Philadelphia, Pa. One sister died in infancy. Bruce Bence was first married to Alice Barber, a daughter of Thomas and Lavine Barber. She died in 1917, at the age of forty-four years. She had to a previous marriage a daughter, Helen, who graduated from High School in 1929. His second marriage was to Blanche Ripple, of Shirleysburg, Pa. Two sons, Robert, nine years, and Frank, seven years, both attending school.