Elmer R. Vance

        Elmer R. “Dodie” Vance of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on June 9, 2013 at the Lynn Care Center in Front Royal, Virginia.

He was born in 1920 in Stuarts Draft, Virginia the son of the late Elmer Grey Vance and Betty Vance.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Virginia Hockman Vance, daughter, Lisa Vance Kelly, son, Jayson Grey Vance, both of Winchester and two grandsons, James Vance Kelly of Towson, Maryland and Stephen Grey Kelly of Harrisonburg, Virginia.  Two infant daughters, seven sisters and one brother preceded him in death.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Mr. Vance served in the United States Navy during WWII as a 2^nd Class Petty Officer Carpenters Mate, on the destroyer Escort USS Steele DE 8, in the South Pacific.  After his tour of duty, he returned home to work for his Master Carpenter father in the building trade.

Mr. Vance joined the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1283 in 1951, and was a Past Governor of the Lodge.  For his dedication and service to the Lodge and Fraternity, he received all degrees of the order.  The Pilgrim Degree of Merit was bestowed upon him in 1974, at a ceremony in the House of God at Mooseheart in Aurora, Illinois.

In 1966, he joined the Ritual Staff of the lodge where he met his many lifelong friends.  He served as the Ritual Chairman for 19 years.

Mr. Vance was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed outdoor life.  He enjoyed visiting with his many friends and family at his river retreat on the Potomac River in West Virginia.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening, from 6:00-8:00 PM, at the Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.  A Loyal Order of Moose Service of Tribute will be conducted at 7:30 PM.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Thursday, at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel with Pastor Will White presiding.  Interment will be in Shenandoah Memorial Park, with Loyal Order of Moose graveside service and Military Honors by VFW Post 2123 of Winchester.

Pallbearers will be Eugene Wise, F. Ross Fleet, Gordon Watts, Dennis Lee, Scott Watts and Stephan Hake.

Honorary Pallbearers will be David Smallwood, Robert Cunningham, Forrest Custer, Donald Culp, Robert Price, Thomas Sine and Pilgrims of the Loyal Order of Moose.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com