FRATER CAPTAIN BILL VANCE USN-RETIRED-SCROLL #158-THETA EPSILON ALUMNI
Sadly, we lost a life long friend, college mate and fraternity brother, Frater Bill Vance-Theta Epsilon Scroll #158 on Tuesday August 9th, 2011 in Virginia Beach, Virginia to a longtime serious illness .
Bill Vance Scroll #158
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Bill Vance, 64, passed away on Tuesday, August 9, 2011. A native of Eureka, California he was the son of the late Joseph T. and Wilma H. Vance. He graduated from Humboldt State University in 1968. After receiving his commission from Aviation Officers Candidate School in 1969, he entered flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1970. Highlights of his twenty six years in the United States Navy include recovery of the Apollo Sixteen aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14); Flight Instructor in the S-2A "Tracker"; NATOPS evaluator and Assistant Operations Officer for Fleet Logistics Support Squadron FIFTY (VRC-50) providing logistics support to the Seventh Fleet carriers; Commanding Officer (1985) of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Hundred Twenty-One (VAW-121) and the USA representative at the 1990 Naval Command College in Newport, Rhode Island. His last tour of duty was as Deputy Director of the National Historical Center in Washington, D.C. He retired to Virginia Beach in 1995 to pursue his love of flying and spend time with his family. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Cardello Vance; two sons, Bryan and Christopher; and one daughter, Lauren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2011, at 1 p.m. at Lynnhaven United Methodist Church, 1033 Little Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lewy Body Disease Association at www.lbda.org. Condolences may be sent to the family via Hollomon-Brown at www.hollomon-brown.com Teke House Pictures Humboldt State College  Bill Vance on the left, Mike Skehen on the right Lumberjack Days, Spring 1968 Humboldt State College, Arcata, Ca  L to R, Geroge Boring, Bill Vance and Ron Sietz, TKE homecoming float preparations Fall 1968  Bill Vance, Mike Viera and Dick Giacolin at Teke House bachelor party for Mike Viera, Humboldt State College, Arcata, Ca  Bill Vance with Joyce at Teke House Party, Humboldt State College, Arcata, Ca  Bill Vance and date at Teke House Roaring 20's Party dressed as an early aviator, Humboldt State College, Arcata, Ca Comments on Bill from his fraternity brothers......... Dear Rosie: I can only imagine the loss you and your family are experiencing. Bill and I were at Humboldt as Fraternity Brothers, roommates, and best buddies. I have always considered Bill a best friend, the type you think of often and each time with a special feeling of how lucky you were to have known him. A true best friend - forever. My days since receiving your note have been difficult; like another good friend and fraternity brother, Phil, l shed a tear, which I haven't done for a long time. Not only did Bill and I have a lot of good times but we also shared the most frightening time of our lives up to that point , and for me, one of the most in my life - a rafting trip that resulted in the drowning of two of our fraternity brothers and two Coast Guard members. Terrible experience, but one that we shared that taught both of us the value of each and every day. You were fortunate to have spent many such days with him. And he with you. I can only imagine how proud he must have been of your children. They sound wonderful. I talked on the phone with Bill earlier this year about you and he joining us in SF for the US Open golf tournament in June and he said he'd try. Now it will not be the same for me - I know I'll be remembering Bill each day then and often before and after. To my many TKE friends, Bill was one of our brothers that made our bond special - it lives on even with the passing of one of our best. I hope you had an opportunity to know Bill, but if not , someone like him. Those of us fortunate enough to have spent time with Bill will never forget him - our memories will live on. Rosie, I share your loss. My heart goes out to you and your family. Take care. Gary Phillips MBA, CPA HSU 1968/1970 18 Elda Drive San Rafael, Calif. 94903 415 812 4802 Dear Rosemary: My heartfelt sympathy. The news of Bill's
passing brought forth a flood of good memories and a sad
tear. In addition to being fraternity brothers at
Humboldt State, Bill and I also graduated from high school
together (Eureka Senior High School, "Go Loggers"). In
high school Bill was one of the most well liked and
respected guys in our class. His good will towards all
attitude, sincerity, good humor and commitment to working
hard made him a model we all admired. If I can share a small piece of high school
memorabilia; each year the senior class selected the best
looking/personable girl and boy (dubbed Mr. and Miss
Sequoia) by sending bios to a famous actress and actor
respectively. In 1964 the male bios were sent to
Yvette Mimieux and she
selected Bill. I have attached the yearbook
pages memorializing the choice. In college Bill earned the same good will and
respect from his fellow classmates. He would always
step up to plate cheerfully on any hard task. While
many of us worked in the lumber mills during the summer to
earn college money, Bill choose to work in the woods in the
logging operations. It paid more but involved much
longer days and very hard, dangerous work. Par for the
course for Bill. With respect, Philip L. Hartley, Ph.D. President Emeritus, West Valley College
Hello .... I never knew Bill
Vance as he entered the house after I had graduated but he
is just another example of just how well the members of TKE
OE have done. From the messages you have forwarded, he had a
very full and very productive life. My sincerest best wishes
to his family in adjusting to the loss. All things do go in circles. In
1962 I married the first lady to wear a TKE pin from our
chapter. Carrol then went about the community to look for a
job to assist me in getting through HSC. It was Wilma Vance,
Bill's mother, who hired her as a service representative for
Ma Bell. .............................
Bruce Marshall TKE OE # 23
I remember Bill being an outstanding TKE, very confident and he seemed to know where life was leading him. Tom Hinz
Wow, sorry to hear about Bill Vance. He was one of the outstanding actives at Theta Epsilon when I pledged in Fall 67 and a main reason why I joined up! “Bosch” Bob Boschee
So sorry to hear about
Bill. He was a pledge brother, as I recall, and a
I liked Bill Vance from the earliest times I pledged in Spring 1968 at the old house on campus. I got to know him better at the I Street house. I want you to know, and I say this with pride, and with humility, that I was one of the gaggle of TKE’s who caused quite a stir at Bill’s wedding. Those of us in attendance, with a fine boost from the champagne that flowed so generously, we all gathered round, and belted out a fine rendition of the TKE song which began, “Oh pass the loving cup around, and pass no frater’s key…” The song was sung with much gusto for a guy we all thought so highly of…and it was remarkably well received. Folks were asking one another, ‘who are those guys?’ If I have some of this story a bit narrow, my apologies. I do believe many of the Arcata boys were there, and, of course, Larry Henderson and Pat Crooks. Certainly others, but memory dims and seems all too easily to slip back under the curtain of time. I’m haven’t been much at attending events, but please know there are many wonderful memories of so many fine fellows, and times, at college. Last. Funny, I catch myself humming that TKE song still today. I find doing so very pleasing. I wish to remain Your Friend, Rick Lay. Still On the Loose In New Mexico.
Yup. I met bill as a
pledge in the on campus house. Always liked him.
Terry Kreuiter
I am very sorry to hear about Bill. I did not know him
well, but he was a very friendly and outgoing frater who
seemed to really enjoy people and life in general.
Kent Willis |
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We will all miss him.....Fair Winds and following Seas Bill...............from your college fraternity brothers........