James F. Vance, 88, of Wellston, was called from this life Wednesday, March 5, 2014. The son of Mike Vance and Piney Burgess Vance O’Neal, he was born May 16, 1925, at Davin, West Virginia. James was a Navy Veteran having served during WW II on the USS San Jacinto, the same ship that saw service from naval pilot, George H. W. Bush. From 1970 to 1981, James was the owner of Vance Heating & Air Conditioning. He was a member of the American Legion.
On May 12, 1948, James married Isedora Lester at Logan, West Virginia; she survives. Other survivors include a brother, Paul (Stevie) Vance; sisters, Meredith Lowe, Joan (Arthur) Hoosier and Maria Vance; sisters-in-law, Joanne Vance and Faye O’Neal; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Also surviving are his good friends/brothers-in-law, Thurman Lester, William Grubb Jr. and Arthur Hoosier.
James was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Newman Vance, Frank O’Neal, Jessie (Alice) O’Neal and Billy (Gladys) O’Neal; and brothers-in-law, Charlie Lowe, Jim Horn and Gerald “Duke” Russell – Jim and Duke were also close friends.
Calling hours will be Saturday from 11 to 1 at the Huntley & Cremeens Funeral Home of Wellston. A funeral service, officiated by William Grubb Jr., will immediately follow calling; and burial, with military honors by the Navy and Wellston Post 371 of the American Legion, will be in the Ridgewood Cemetery. Pallbearers include: Bob Jackson, Brian Thomas, James Thomas, Dave Perry, Mark Aldridge, David Gillespie, Michael Grubb, Bob Copley and Rocky Russell as an honorary. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Huntley & Cremeens Funeral Home.