Wade H. Vance

Wade H. Vance, Sr., 84, of Ashwood Lane, Myrtle Beach, SC, formerly of Perkins Ave., Morganton, NC died Thursday, April 1, 2010 at Waccamaw Community Hospital in Murrells Inlet, SC following a period of declining health. Born in Avery County, NC on March 9, 1926, he was the son of the late Howard Vance and Lola Clark Vance. Wade was a member of Zion Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and retired from Broughton Hospital after 33 years of employment. He was a ham radio operator for many years and was a member of the Morganton Ham Operators Club. Wade was an avid gardener and fisherman and also raised beagles which he loved to use to hunt rabbits.A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Wade is survived by his wife of 48 years, Virginia Stroupe Vance of the home; children, Judy Loftis and husband, Tony, of Memphis, TN, Wade Vance, Jr. and wife, Debbie, of Morganton, NC, Dianne Walker and husband, Lonnie, of Chattanooga, TN, Michael Vance and wife, Nancy, of Huntersville, NC, Diann Blissit and husband, Alan, of Atlanta, GA, and Mark Vance and wife, Donna, of Myrtle Beach, SC; twenty grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; sisters, Nancy Pennington and Peggy Travison, both of Morganton, and Tina McNeely and husband, B.W. of Pineola, NC; a number of nephews and nieces; and his best friend, Bill Stewart.In addition to his parents, Wade was preceded in death by a a son, Steve Clark, and a number of brothers and sisters.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, April 4, 2010 at Zion Baptist Church with Reverends Dr. Steve Parker and David Orders officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes prior to the funeral hour. At other times the family will be at 3026 Perkins Avenue, Morganton.