Joe Henry Vance

Mr. Joe Henry Vance, 75, of Winston-Salem passed away December 29, 2008 at Forsyth Medical Center. He was the seventh of eight children born August 11, 1933 in Kernersville, the son of the late Marvin Dewitt and Hattie Mabe Vance. Joe graduated from Kernersville High School Class of 1952 as an outstanding athlete. The day after graduation he began 4 years of duty with the U S. Air force. After his service in the Air Force he attended and graduated from Gaston Tech. He retired from R. J. Reynolds Engineering Dept. with 31 years of service and contracted back for 15 more years as a consultant. Whether he was offering words of wisdom or brightening someone's day with his gift for telling jokes, Joe made a difference in the lives of those around him. While coaching for the Southwest little league baseball team, Joe displayed his leadership skills and love for sports. Joe loved his time teaching electrical engineering at Forsyth Technical Community College. While working at RJR, he was instrumental in the development of a computerized hearing test system. His fellow employees hearing was very important to him. He was a member of Hope Moravian Church. Joe loved life and it is this love that brought so much joy to so many people. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brothers, Coy, Clay, M. D. and Jack Vance and one sister, Sybil Vance Edwards. On April 6, 1953 he married Mary Johnson Vance who survives of the home. Also surviving are one daughter, Martha Low and husband Keng of Winston-Salem; one son, Andrew Vance and wife, Shiho of North Miami Beach, FL; three granddaughters, Melissa Low and Melanie Low of Winston-Salem and Victoria Vance of North Miami Beach, FL; two sisters, Dorothy Kiger of Rural Hall and Jane Vellines and husband, Richard of Spartanburg, SC. He will also be missed by his brothers-in-law, Henry Johnson and wife, Lucille and Gene Johnson and wife, Barbara of Winston-Salem and his many nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted Thursday, January 1, 2009 at Hope Moravian Church with Rev. David Merritt officiating. Burial will follow in the church graveyard. The family will receive friends tonight from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. Memorials may be made to Hope Moravian Church, 2759 Hope Church Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27127.

Memorials:
Hope Moravian Church, 2759 Hope Church Road, Winston-salem, NC 27127

Cemetery:
Hope Moravian Church Graveyard

Visitation:
06:00pm - 08:00pm on December 31, 2008 at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel

Service:
Service at 02:00pm on January 1, 2009 at Hope Moravian Church