Herbert A. Pence, Jr.

Herbert A. Pence, Jr., 88, of Manchester, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2023.  He was the loving husband of Judith (Kerns) Pence with whom he shared 61 years of marriage.

Herb was born March 18, 1935 in Cincinnati, Ohio to the late Herbert and Willa (Hawkins) Pence. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where he met the love of his life, Judith.  Following two years of service in the US Army, he and Judith married, he earned an MBA from Xavier University and they started a family. He arrived in New Hampshire with his wife and two daughters in 1975.

Herb worked for a private transportation consulting firm, ATE, and managed the Manchester Transit Authority until the early 1980’s. After that he spent 2 years in Saudi Arabia managing the transit system in Jeddah. Returning to this country he joined the MBTA in Boston and retired from there in 1999. 

After his retirement, Herb became Vice-President for North America of the Charter Institute of Transport, an international organization for transit managers. He was an active member of the Consolidated Masonic Lodge in Boston and a member of the Masonic Lodge in Manchester. Herb was a volunteer at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, and an active member of Brookside Congregational Church. Herb was a gifted writer. He wrote short stories as well as articles for transportation magazines both here in the United States and in Great Britain. 

Throughout his life, Herb was a man who found opportunities to help others, assist in worthwhile projects and connect people who shared mutual interests. Traveling with his family and friends was a joy in his life. He traveled to over 84 countries before he passed. Above all, Herb was a family man who cherished his wife, daughters, and grandchildren. He was there to offer love, support, and guidance.

Along with his wife, Judith, Herb is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Nickerson of Woodstock, VT and Suzanne Pence and her husband, Terence Donahue of Bennington, VT; his grandchildren, Lily Nickerson and Abby Nickerson, and an extended family and cherished friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 PM on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at Brookside Congregational Church in Manchester with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to The Seashore Trolley Museum 195 Log Cabin Road, Kennebunkport Maine 04046, The Manchester Historic 200 Bedford St. Manchester, NH 03101, or Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.e joihe