Barbara Ann Bence

1934 - 2024

Barbara Ann Bence

April 10, 1934 - May 30, 2024

Lakebay, Washington - Barbara Ann (Schales) Parshall Bence was born in Sitka, Arkansas to George Dave and Hester Irene (Bonhill) Schales. She was the oldest of 15 children with 7 brothers and 7 sisters. She died in Key Center, Washington.

When quite young her family moved to Michigan, settling in the Mt Clemens area. After high school, she joined the Army, met her first husband whose family lived in the Artondale area and so Washington became her home.

As a young mother of 4 she met her second husband, and they settled in Key Center.

She was a retired nurse who loved singing, painting, dancing, and travel.

Barbara was a prolific painter and sang throughout the whole of her life, including many years with the Key Singers.

She was also beloved Mom, Grandma, aunt, sister and dear friend and will be missed.

She is survived by 5 of her sisters, Helen Jo, Donna, Yvonne, Debbie and Gail.

Also, by her children, Cheryl, Li (Anne), Laurel, and Virginia (Brian) plus Lis, a daughter of the heart.

And by her grandchildren, Sara (Casey), Jessica (James), Seth (Amanda) and Joe (Laura) and by her great grandchildren, Ronnie (Nevaeh), Alyssa, Gregory, Yuuki, Alex, Trinity, Natallie, Elspeth, Aubrey and Noah.

She was widowed more than 40 years ago and is now at Haven of Rest cemetery beside her late husband, Paul Dene Bence.

Please join us for a remembrance Thursday, June 27th at the Key Peninsula Civic Center in Vaughn between the hours of 12:00 and 4:00 p.m. A brief sharing time will begin about 12:30 for anyone who'd like to speak about who she was to you.

In lieu of flowers, you may like to donate to local groups important to Barbara, such as Key Singers, Key Peninsula Community Services, The Mustard Seed Project or Mustard Seed Village. And various Alzheimer's associations are doing good work.