The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Rev. Dale H. Vance, 78, of Port Neches, died Thursday, May 21, 2009, in Memorial Hermann Baptist Beaumont Hospital.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in First Baptist Church in Bridge City with burial following at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Nederland.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Born in Hardy, Ark., Aug. 30, 1930, he was the son of Estel and Snowdie Vance and was a Navy veteran of the Korean War.

Bro. Vance was an ordained minister having served for over 50 years in Baptist churches throughout the Golden Triangle, including, Trinity Baptist in Port Arthur, First Baptist in Bridge City and Memorial Baptist in Port Arthur.  His first place of service following graduation from seminary was at Central Baptist Church in Port Neches. Following his retirement from First Baptist Church in Orangefield, Bro. Vance served as interim pastor at various churches and was recently called again to pastor Central Baptist Church in Port Neches.

Bro. Vance traveled to Korea, Brazil, Mexico and the Ukraine to participate in mission trips. It was his desire to win souls for Christ. He loved sharing the Gospel and would do so every chance he got. Preceded in death by his parents, Bro. Vance is survived by his wife, Sally Vance of Port Neches; sons, Robert D. Vance and his wife, Karen, of Bridge City, John B. Vance of Liberty; daughters, Mary P. Bingham and her husband, Jeff, of Bridge City, Brenda C. Barron and her husband, Philip, of Royse City; grandchildren, Alex Bingham, Philip Dale, Evan and Emily Barron; brother, Robert W. Vance and his wife, Marian, of Hardy.

Pallbearers will be Robert Vance, John Vance, Alex Bingham, Philip Barron, Jeff Bingham and Billy Goodwin.

Memorials may be directed to Gideons International, P.O. Box 445, Orange, TX 77631.