Janice Welker Pendexter

Janice Welker Pendexter, age 85, formerly of Newark, died suddenly on July 10, 2017 at her home. She was born May 13, 1932 in Newark,, Ohio to the late Gladys Mae (Dutcher) and W. Harold Welker. She was a graduate of Newark High School class of 1951. In 1957, Janice started her over 30 years of service with Western Electric/Lucent Technology/A.T. & T. After her retirement, she was an active member of the Ohio Telephone Pioneers and loved living at Buckeye Lake. A need for speed was always on her mind, enjoying all things that went fast. NASCAR was a favorite passion and her drivers were #3 and #88. She joked about getting her last speeding ticket while driving 80 miles an hour at the age of 85! She was a long time member of the Delaware Eagles and Newark Chapter #305 Order of the Eastern Star. She is survived by four daughters, Patti (Bob) Gibson, Penny (Jesse) Stewart, Brenda Lee (Rebecca Ball) Pendexter and Kelli (Rob) Fletcher; son, George (Rita) Pendexter; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Marilyn Flanagan and Peg (Jim) Allen; and her beloved cat, Wilson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Richard Welker. Friends may call from 12-1:30 p.m. on Friday. July 14, at Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home, 179 Granville Street in Newark, where a funeral service celebrating her life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Newark, where she will be laid to rest with her grandparents. The family prefers that memorials be directed to the Licking County Humane Society, 825 Thornwood Drive SW, Heath, Ohio 43056. Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Janice and her family.