(November 10, 1915--December 14, 1997)

Howard J. Bence, 82, of 1052 River Road, Norwood, formerly of 207 Charles St., died Sunday morning at Hepburn Medical Center, Ogdensburg.

Mr. Bence began working as a paperboy in 1925, selling the Watertown Standard on Public Square. He sold the Watertown Daily Times from 1927 to 1932 on LeRay Street, West Hoard Street and Highland Avenue, and also delivered parcels for the Globe Store.

He later was a self-employed carpenter and then worked in the gun-mount department of New York Air Brake Co.

Mr. Bence was a police officer in Watertown for 35 years, serving as a detective from October 1964 until his retirement in 1978, at which time he was holder of badge No. 1. This designated him as the senior police officer.

He was elected president of the Police Benevolent Association in 1952 and 1953. He was honored as policeman of the year in 1977. In 1978, he was made a "first citizen" of the city by then-Mayor Karl R. Burns.

He was a member of American Legion Post 61 and the North Side Improvement League, a former communicant of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church and a communicant of St. Andrew's Church, Norwood.

Born Nov. 10, 1915, in Watertown, son of Frank and Estella O'Shea Bence, he graduated from Watertown High School. He married Agnes E. Gleason on May 29, 1941, at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church with the Rev. Laurant Bourke officiating.

Mrs. Bence was the deputy commissioner of the Jefferson County Department of Social Services from 1971 to 1978, when she retired. She died in March.

Mr. Bence entered the Army Oct. 26, 1943, serving as a member of the military police at Camp Kanchapara, Calcutta, India.

His unit served in the India-Burma theater of World War II with Base Section, which led military port installations throughout the world in handling vital war materials.

He was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant on May 16, 1946.

He received an American Campaign medal, an Asiatic Campaign medal, a Good Conduct medal and a WWII Victory medal.

Surviving are a son, Peter R., Norwood; a daughter, Mrs. Ronald (Eleanor) Campisi, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; two brothers, Royal M. Bence, Harlingen, Texas, and Ronald Bence, Albany; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A brother, Harold Bence, and a sister, Marion McGure, died before him.

A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church with the Rev. Mark McDonald officiating.

A prayer service will be at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday at D. L. Calarco Funeral Home. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery.

Calling hours were scheduled for 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Contributions may be made to Hospice of Jefferson County, 425 Washington St., Watertown, N.Y. 13601 or to St. Andrew's Church, Norwood.

(Taken from the Tuesday, December 16, 1997 edition of the Watertown Daily Times).