Vance, Fern Sarah (Smith) 1914-2007

VANCE, SMITH, HUGHES

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/8/2008 at 20:51:44

Fern Sarah Vance, age 93, of Bussey passed away on April 22, 2007, at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella.

She was born on March 23, 1914, in Mahaska County to James Garfield and Anna (Hughes) Smith. She married Frank Clair Vance on Nov. 30, 1929, in Ottumwa. He passed away in 1970.

Fern was a homemaker and had also worked in the kitchen at the VA Hospital in Knoxville. She was a member of the Bussey United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women's Group, the American Legion Auxiliary of Bussey and was active within the Senior Citizens Center in Bussey where she had helped serve meals. Fern was an avid sports fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

She is survived by three daughters, Betty Grace and husband Dale of Oskaloosa, Patty Barnhill of Bussey and Beverly Armstrong of Knoxville; one son-in-law, Frank Spaur of Bussey and one daughter-in-law Dottie Vance of Des Moines; 25 grandchildren, 52 great grandchildren and 13 great great-grandchildren. One sister, Pauline Wilson of Bussey also survives.

Her parents, husband, one son, Charles Vance, three daughters, Louise Spaur and twins, Judy Sinclair and Janice Sinnott; three sisters and four brothers precede her in death.

Funeral services were held on April 25, 2007 at the Bussey United Methodist Church in Bussey with Rev. Jill Leveck officiating. Burial was in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Bussey.

Memorials have been established to the Bussey United Methodist Church or to the Greenlawn Cemetery.

The Knoxville Journal Express, May 7, 2007