James C. Vance, 84, passed away Saturday January 18, 2020, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born March 30, 1935 in Ashland, the son of Coy and Nona (Jordan) Vance.
James was a Claflin resident. He graduated from Bazine High School in 1953, and attended Fort Hays Kansas State College for two years. He graduated in the first class at the United States Air Force Academy in 1959. James served as a military pilot for ten years in Oklahoma, France, Germany and Southeast Asia. He was an engineer and a manager at Gates Rubber Company for 25 years, retiring in 1995, with 43 patents.
Survivors include son Gary Vance; two daughters Holly Rolen and Lori Fatuch; one sister Barbara Hall of Hutchinson; thirteen grandchildren and many great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by son James Jr., two brothers Jack and Jerry Vance and four sisters Vera Wilkins, Virginia Henderson, Carol Curtis and Bonnie Bond.
Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday January 21, 2020, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at the Claflin United Methodist Church, Claflin with Pastor Diana Webster officiating. Burial will follow at the Claflin Cemetery.
Memorial suggested to the Claflin Fire Department, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.