On a cold, icy morning on December 2, 1934, a tiny baby boy began his journey into life much sooner than he was expected. The place—rural Cedar Co., MO. And before his father could even go for the doctor he had to cut away the broken icy trees out of the lane. When Vance did arrive later that day, his grandma Keith took him and sat behind the wood stove all through the night to make sure he was warm enough. He didn't have a name added to his birth certificate due to it being tenuous thing if he would indeed live or not.

He was the only child of Jesse Rayburn Keith and Dova Jane Baumgardner. He grew to adulthood living primarily in Cedar Co. and Humansville, MO. He and his parents worked in the canneries in California each year, coming home in the winter where he attended country schools as well as school in Humansville. He graduated from Humansville High School in 1953.

He gave his heart to Jesus at a young age and was baptized in the river with others of his family. At the time of death he had been a member of Glenstone Baptist Church 34 years.

At a point in time he joined the United States Army and was inducted to the 8 ^th Infantry Division and was immediately assigned to operation "Go Gyro" which meant 33 months in Germany. He received training as a "medic." He traveled to many of the countries in Europe on leaves with his buddies. He returned to the USA in 1959 serving out the remainder of his 4 year obligation in Fort Riley, Kansas. He served with honor and received the Good Conduct Metal at his discharge.

He met the love of his life, Darlene Piper, in December 1955 just prior to leaving for Germany. That was followed by nearly 3 years of letters flying back and forth across the ocean. He came home on a month's leave at Christmas 1957, and they became engaged. He returned to Germany to serve out his commitment arriving back home in March of 1959. They were married on June 7, 1959 at Humansville Baptist Church, and they immediately moved to Ft. Riley, Kansas to serve out his enlistment. They had enjoyed 60 ½ years of marriage this year.

Vance was a quiet man known by both men and women for his sweet smiles and gentle demeanor. He was a loving husband and father and adored by all of his family.  Even as he was ending his life his sweet smile was the thing that people ministering to him said about him. His was a life well lived. Gratefully, he did not suffer pain or struggle as the angels came for him. He slipped away to heaven on Friday, January 31, 2020, at 5:51am.

Vance was employed by the Paul Mueller Company for 34 years where he worked as a grinder, heliarc welder and radiologist. After retirement he spent another 11 years with Beaman Electric as warehouse man.

He loved trout fishing, camping, traveling across the USA with their travel trailer and especially going to the National Parks, boating as well as hiking.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Dova and his wife's parents, Clifford and Ona Piper. Also many, many close family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene, 3 daughters and sons: Valerie & Rodney Stokes; Vanessa & Lee Beaman; and Venecia & Mike Scheid. (In this family there are not "in-laws."); grandchildren: Vance & Nozomi Stokes; Lacie & Lee Hart; Matt & Amanda Beaman; Jeremiah Beaman; Micheal and Jacob Scheid. Also surviving are eight great-grandchildren: Weston and Maverick Beaman; Alyssa and twins—Bentley and Stella Beaman; Lincoln Hart; Evie and Aiden Stokes. He will be sorely missed by all and was known to the grandchildren as "Papa."

Officiating at the service: Rev. Doug Irvin and Rev. Patrick Ward

Pallbearers: Matthew Beaman, Jeremiah Beaman, Micheal Scheid, Jacob Scheid, Weston Beaman, Maverick Beaman, and Lee Hart.

Honorary Pallbearer: Vance Stokes

Services will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at Glenstone Baptist Church, 413 S. Glenstone. Visitation at 11:00 am; Celebration Service at 12:00 pm; Burial following in the Veteran's Cemetery at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to Glenstone Baptist Church Memorial Fund or to Integrity Hospice Memorials.

Services under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home.