Robert Vance, Class of 1949

Robert Vance ’49, died November 23, 2022. Bob was born in Columbus, Ohio on May 12, 1926, to the late Floyd ’16 and Ettie Vance.
Following graduation from Westerville (Ohio) High School, he joined the U.S. Army and served in the Philippines during World War II. Upon discharge, he received a B.S. from Otterbein College, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois. While attending Otterbein, Bob was in the Pi Kappa Phi (Country Club) fraternity, band and played football & softball.

Bob met Evelyn Bender Vance ’51 while at Otterbein, they married in 1953. They relocated to Louisville, Kentucky in 1958, where Bob took a research chemist position at General Electric’s Appliance Park. In later years, he also established and directed the analytical laboratory of the Kentucky Department of Water and worked at the U.S. Naval Ordnance Station.
Bob was a longtime member of Beargrass Christian Church, where he served as deacon and treasurer of the Friendship Class for many years. He was active in the Boy Scouts, having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout himself, serving as Scoutmaster of Troop 115, and planning and participating in many high adventure trips. Bob loved to play bridge, both for fun with his Sunday School Class, and competitively, where he achieved the rank of Life Master with the American Contract Bridge League. Bob was also a volunteer construction worker and bookkeeper for Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville for over 20 years and built houses with the Jimmy Carter Work Projects in Pikeville and the Philippines. He donated blood regularly to the American Red Cross for 70 years.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Floyd Johnson and Ettie Louise (Waid) Vance, and brother Waid Vance ’47, sister-in-law, Sylvia (Phillips) Vance ’47, brother-in-law Ralph Bender ’59 & Aunt Helen Vance Eckelberry ’19.
He is survived by his wife Evey ’51, son Richard Allen Vance, daughters Kathryn Vance Latosky ’80 (Joseph) and Patricia Vance Kerr, granddaughters Kathleen Renee Kerr and Alissa Christine Vance, sister-in-law Nancy Bender Carlton ’64, and several nieces and nephews.