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In Memoriam

Gladys E. "Pem" Kelty (Bender) - Class Of 1936

Gladys E. Kelty, daughter of Russell H. (1897-1988) and Gladys (Harrison) (1898-1993) Kelty, was born 16 April 1918, Michigan.  Gladys was also known as "Pem" and her social security registration and number were documented under the name of Pem.

Pem's father was a distinguished Professor of Horticulture at Michigan State College.  He was also a beekeeper and one-time President of the Michigan Bee Keepers Association.

Pem graduated from Okemos High School in 1936.  She married Robert B. Bender 2 November 1940, East Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Sunday 3 November 1940

KELTY-BENDER VOWS SPOKEN AT RITES HERE

The chapel of the Peoples church at East Lansing Saturday afternoon was the scene of the wedding of Miss Gladys E. Kelty, daughter of Prof. and Mrs. R. H. Kelty of East Lansing, to Robert B. Bender, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Bender of Birmingham.  The reception following took place at the home of the brides' parents, just east of East Lansing.

Gladioli and chrysanthemums wee combined with palms to form a background for the ceremony performed at 3:30 p.m. by Dr. Martin Luther Fox in the presence of 50 friends.  Tall candelabra held lighted tapers to complete the setting.

Silver trimmed the lush green frock worn by the bride with a brown fur jacket and deep brown velvet turban.  Her other accessories were also brown, and her flowers were orchids and yellow roses.  Miss Dorothy Bender of Birmingham, sister of the bridegroom, was maid of honor, wearing a plum colored dress with matching feather and corsage of Talisman roses.

John R. Parker of East Lansing was groomsman, and ushers were Russell H. Kelty and Donald E. Kelty, also of East Lansing.  Music during the ceremony was played by Mr. L. B. Sholl.

Mrs. Kelty wore black with aqua trim for her daughter's wedding and her flowers were sweetheart roses.  The mother of the bridegroom also wore black, her shirred bodice embroidered with sequins.  Her flowers were Talisman roses.

Following a wedding trip to the east, Mr. and Mrs. Bender will make their home, after November 15, in Detroit.  Both attended Michigan state college, where Mrs. Bender was a member of Theta Alpha Phi, honorary dramatic society.  She also attended Lansing Business university.

Out of town guests were present from Detroit, Romeo, Grosse Pointe, and Ypsilanti.

 

Robert and Pem lived in the Birmingham, Michigan area for a number years, raising family there.  Pem was the 1968-69 president of the Sculptors Guild of Michigan.  Later the Bender's moved to Palm Desert, California.  Pem died 30 June 2009.  Her final resting place is unknown.  Nothing more is known about her husband.