Lee Edward Pense, 97, of Springdale, passed away Wednesday, July 27, 2022 in Fayetteville. He was born August 5, 1924 in Winslow, AR to William Robert and Annie Connie Reed Pense.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers; and two sisters.
Lee was a Navy aviation, radio and radar operator and top turret gunner during WWII. He worked at Walmart, retiring after 15 years. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, and woodworking.
He is survived by his wife, Joan Shipley Pense of the home to whom he married August 23, 1947; two sons, Mike Pense (Robin) of West Fork and Timmy Pense of Beulah, MI; 7 grandchildren, Rachel Anderson, Michael Pense II, Christina Loftis, Donald Pense, Sarah Walker, Lisa Winterstein, and Jacob Parks; 13 great-grandchildren; and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Monday, August 1, 2022 at Beard’s Chapel.
Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at Beard’s Chapel with Joe Mohorn officiating. Interment will follow in the Fayetteville National Cemetery with military honors under the direction of Beard’s Chapel.
Uncle Lee was my Dad’s (Carl Pense) last living sibling. He was always special to us, a wonderful man.
Jerry and I and my sister Nora Sue were privileged to surprise Uncle Lee at the WW11Memorial when his Honor Flight arrived in Washington DC in October of 2009. We were so proud of him as he got off the bus with 90 other Vets from Arkansas. We spent the day with him touring the Memorial and listening to his memories. One of those days that had a shine to it that will never tarnish. A visit to Arkansas always included a visit to Uncle Lee’s and Aunt Joan’s. He was the most amazing gardener and was so proud of his beautiful strutting roosters.
On one special visit, he took us to the old Pense homestead in Winslow where just a wall and part of the floor remained. We stood and listened to his memories as we were surrounded by them.
Aunt Joan, you have been the perfect, loving companion to share life’s journey with Uncle Lee.
Mike and Tim, two sons that would always make their Dad smile. Mike, take care of that old shotgun. Thanks for showing me how it worked.
May god bless and comfort you all with happy memories of the family circle.
Fair winds and following seas, shipmate. We have the watch.
Sincere sympathy to Uncle Lee’s Family. He was my mom’s brother and there was only two years difference in their age so she shared many memories of their childhood. Uncle Lee was a really good person and he served his nation honorably during WWII.
Please accept my condolences. Lee was my grandmother Jewel’s brother. He was always so nice when we visited. He will be missed.
So sorry. Uncle Lee was a really good person and served his country in IWWII My sincere sympathy to the family.
I had the privilege of getting to know Mr. Pense over the last several months. He was such a sweet man. Your family is in my thoughts.
I met Mr. Pense back in late 2021 when I had the opportunity to work with him in therapy. I loved hearing him tell stories of his top turret gunner role in WWII and answering my “how do you garden..?). often times I’d dial Joan’s number at the end of therapy and would take a moment to listen briefly and walk away smiling hearing the two of them laugh at what each other was saying. I wish I could have met you two in person.
What a precious individual, Lee was. Truly a treasure and I’m so thankful I was able to meet and work with him.
Praying for you all during this difficult time.
I have very fond memories of Uncle Lee. From childhood and into my early twenties, Uncle Lee and Aunt Joan were never far away. It was a sad day for us when they left California and moved to Arkansas. Uncle Lee and my father, Don, were so similar in looks and personality that he became very special to me.
My overall impression of him was a smiling, friendly, happy and kind person. I know everyone will miss him tremendously.
If there are fishing holes in heaven, he and Dad must be having a good time.
May God bring comfort and healing to your family.
While growing up in California, we always looked forward to taking a special weekend trip to visit Uncle Lee, Aunt Joan, Mike and Tim. We’d leave on a Friday night after Dad got off work, and there was no easy freeway system to get us up to Porterville in the 1950’s; it was a long dark road! No matter when we arrived, 11 PM or 2 in the morning, Lee and Joan were always up and ready to greet us. I remember Uncle Lee’s smile and the big hug he was never too tired to give. It was a very special time. Sometimes our visits would include our other Aunts and Uncles and cousins. I remember sitting in the corner and listening to the war stories told by Uncle Lee, Uncle Don, Uncle Bill, and my Dad. What tales they could tell! They all took such great pride in having served the country during the war years, and of the families they were raising. Uncle Lee was the last family survivor of that greatest generation of our family veterans. I have been trying to think of a single word to describe Uncle Lee; there are so many things that could be said about him. One of my clearest memories is of our visit to the WWII Memorial , in Washington , when he came in on the Honor Flight. Watching him hug and speak with the other vets was truly the experience of a lifetime. I remember when it was almost time to leave, and we had just missed an opportunity to get a photo with Bob and Elizabeth Dole. Bob was gone, but I saw Elizabeth and followed her to her car. I told her that my Uncle was there from Arkansas, and that he would love to meet her. She cheerfully got out of her car, and walked over to meet Uncle Lee. He immediately greeted her like a long lost friend, and they had a wonderful conversation about Lee’s WWII experiences. I remember the feeling I had while watching Uncle Lee. The word that comes to mind now is “genuine.” Lee could talk to anyone, and he was always the same: friendly, sincere, and always down to earth. He had genuine love for everything about life, and that love and joy was contagious to those around him. I will always miss him, but I remember what Aunt Joan told me when my Mom passed away. She said “Susie, your Mom will always be wherever you are!” I am certain that is true of Uncle Lee too; his family and all of us who loved him will forever feel his spirit of faith and joy surrounding us.
So sorry for your loss. I worked at the same Walmart as he> he was a very nice man>
When I think of my mother’s brother, Lee Edward Pense, the words of scripture from Ecclesiastes 10:12 come to mind: “Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious…” Lee was a wise and truly gracious man, who had a positive effect on all who knew him. He embodied the attributes that most men aspire to, but few really achieve: patience, confidence, integrity, honor, perseverance and the understanding that our personal freedom is not doing what we like, but in having the choice to do what we should. Lee was a great man, and will be greatly missed. In our current world of chaos, his quiet stability and example is our greatest loss. God be with you, Uncle.