John Robert Vance

John Robert Vance Sr., 92, of Aledo, died Thursday, April 19, 2012, at the Mercer County Nursing Home. Services are 11 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at Bewley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Aledo. Visitation will be 10 a.m. until time of service. Burial is at the Aledo Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the John R. Vance Memorial Fund.

Mr. Vance was born June 26, 1919, in Aledo, the son of Ed and Opal Rockwell Vance. He married Bernice Swanson of Viola on June 12, 1937. He later married Eileen Hemphill Derr in 1982.

He was associated with his father at Ed Vance and Sons of Aledo from 1940 to 1946. He then joined his two brothers, Don and Paul. They all retired in 1980.

He enjoyed duck and goose hunting and flying his own airplane.

He is survived by his son, Joe R. Vance; daughter-in-law, Sandra Kay Vance; grandchildren, Todd (Kay) Vance, Terry (Angie) Vance, Sheri (Butch) Pikuza, Jaime Vance and Corey Vance; great-grandchildren, Jeanette (Steve) Lasky, Steve (Sarah) Mitchell, Brandon Pikuza, Kendall Tomlinson, Tyler Vance and Haley Vance; four great-great-grandchildren; brother, Donald (Jean) Vance and sister-in-law, Lois Vance. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Opal Rockwell Vance; wives, Bernice Swanson in 1980 and Eileen Hemphill Derr in 2011; son, John R. Vance Jr.; brother, Paul Vance; sister, Kathryn Fisher; granddaughter, Tracy Ann; and great-grandson, Daniel Mitchell.