Russell Eugene Pence, 86, of Champaign passed away Saturday, April 18, 2026. He joined Research Press Publishers in Champaign in 1972. He served as vice president of marketing and later as president until his retirement in 2010. Pence was a guiding hand in the growth of Research Press. Working with colleagues Ann Wendel, Karen Steiner, Jeff Helgesen and many other dedicated individuals, Pence helped establish Research Press as one of the leaders in publishing behavior intervention counseling resources for the K-12 school population as well as for the private sector extending to an international audience of educators and authors.
Russell Pence was born on Sept. 14, 1939, in Springfield, the son of Russell and Elizabeth (Barr) Pence.
He attended Eastern Illinois University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He taught school in the Chicago area for a number of years before moving to Champaign. After retirement, Russ continued to enjoy socializing and traveling with his family and friends.
Russ had a lifelong passion for jazz music and played trumpet with various bands in the Champaign-Urbana area for many years. He was a longtime member of the Medicare 7, 8 or 9 Dixieland Jazz band from the University of Illinois and performed with them at events in the Champaign area and across the country.
He is survived by his daughter, Sarah Holcomb, and son-in-law, Douglas Holcomb, of Fuquay-Varina, N.C.; grandson, Ethan Holcomb, and his fiancée, Meghan Blazer, of Raleigh, N.C.; granddaughter, Julia Holcomb of Chicago; sister Susan Pence of Chicago; and nieces and nephew and their families.
