Ronald Neil Vance

Ronald Neil Vance passed away peacefully on June 22, 2022. He was three weeks shy of his 91 birthday. Ron was born on July 13, 1931 to Orien and Ruth Cosby Vance in Globe, Arizona. Ron was the middle son of three brothers, with an older brother, Glen, and a younger brother, Bob.

Ron lived in Mesa, Arizona as a young child before moving with his family to Montebello in East Los Angeles, California. His father was a baker by trade. When Ron was 11 years old his family was in an automobile accident that left Ron’s mother paralyzed. Ron’s left leg was so severely injured, doctors wanted to amputate. Ron’s father insisted on trying to save the leg. Ron used crutches for two years and he suffered with osteomyelitis his entire life. Ron and his brothers tenderly helped care for their wheelchair bound mother throughout their growing up years.

Ron graduated from Montebello High School where he excelled in math and science. He worked as a “soda jerk” scooping mile-high ice cream cones at the local soda shop. Because of his leg, Ron was not drafted to serve in the Korean War.

Ron was active in the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints his whole life. At the age of 21, he received a call to serve in the Central American Mission. Ron thoroughly enjoyed his missionary service. His grandchildren loved to hear stories about his time preaching the gospel, baptizing, having a pet monkey, and grinding his own peanut butter. Ron absolutely loved his experience as a missionary and he was able to speak Spanish for the remainder of his life.

Upon returning home after close to three years of missionary service, Ron became the Chairman of the Young Men - Young Women Gleaners Association in East Los Angeles. In the summer of 1957, Ron was conducting a fireside when he looked down at the audience and spotted Anna Loye Van Wagoner. He later said he knew at that moment that she would be his wife. He wasted no time learning her name and filling her social calendar. At the end of the summer, Ron followed Anna Loye home to Provo, Utah where he attended BYU.

Ron and Anna Loye were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on April 3, 1958. They have been married for over 64 years.

Ron’s hobbies of building radios and tinkering with electronics became his career. He started in Los Angeles where his children Kevin (1958) and Vicki (1960) were born. A few years later an opportunity with Morton Thiokol in Brigham City brought them back to Utah. It was here they purchased their first home and John (1961) and Steven (1964) were born. Another job opportunity - this time with IBM in California came along, and Ron and his family moved to San Jose and then Campbell, California where Mel (1966) was born. Ron worked as a computer electrical engineer for IBM for 25 years. His career with IBM took the family to Rochester, Minnesota for a few years. It was here that Brian (1974) was born. Ron was later reassigned back to California and the family moved to Los Gatos where Melanie (1980) completed their family. Ron lived and worked there until he retired in 1989. After a brief stay in the Seattle area, Ron and Anna Loye returned to Utah and have lived here since 1992.

Ron enjoyed his work at IBM. He also enjoyed working on computers, ham radios, transistors, and all things technology related. He also greatly enjoyed games of all sorts. He and Anna Loye would play checkers every day when he came home for lunch. Ron loved to play Sorry, Solitaire, and 5 Crowns - and he usually almost always won.

Ron was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. He loved his Savior, Jesus Christ, and had a firm testimony of the restored gospel. Ron served faithfully in many callings such as ward clerk, district council member in Minnesota, and stake computer specialist. Ron and Anna Loye served as senior missionaries in the Utah South Salt Lake Mission office from August 2002 to June 2004. They greatly enjoyed serving together and with the other missionaries. Ron and Anna Loye also served as welfare specialists and the church cannery. Ron set a great example for his children as he raised all of them in the gospel and baptized each of his seven children. All five of his sons served missions. Missionary service was always important to him.

Ron and Anna Loye greatly enjoyed raising their children. Fond memories include road trips in the family station wagon and later the van, as well as camping trips and time-share stays. Together they visited all fifty states. In their later years, Ron and Anna Loye returned several times to Central America to tour Ron’s mission areas. They also visited South America, Europe, and Asia.

Ron will be remembered for his love of peanut butter and his oft repeated quips such as: “Getting old ain’t for sissies,” and “what you been feeding me, hun?” or “behind every good man, is an even better woman,” “oh scrud!” “every day is a good day, some are just better than others,” and “of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most.”

Ron showed great strength and determination throughout his life. He has left a legacy of love to his posterity who love him dearly. Ron is survived by his wife of 64 years, Anna Loye Van Wagoner Vance, and his older brother, Glen Vance. Ron is also survived by six of his children and their spouses: Kevin (Wendy) Vance, Alain Jensen, John (Vicki) Vance, Steven (Amey) Vance, Melvin (Peggy) Vance, Brian (Kim) Vance, and Melanie Vance (Arthur) Yang; as well as 22 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Orien and Ruth Vance, his younger brother, Bob Vance, and his daughter, Vicki Vance Jensen.

Memorial services to celebrate a life well lived will be held Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Pinecrest Chapel located at 2080 East Pinecrest Lane in Sandy, Utah 84092. A viewing will be held the evening before on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South in Sandy, Utah 84092 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. For those unable to attend the service in person the family invites you to join via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88508179764. A free Zoom account is required and you will need to sign in to join the service.

Ron’s family would like to thank Envision Hospice Services who cared for Ron during his final three months. Thank you especially to Lisa and Sarah for their kind and thoughtful care.

Ron will be interred in a family cemetery in Midway, Utah. As Ron would say, “thanks for all you do, and thanks for all you think you do.” Ron is loved as a husband, father, grandfather, and friend and he will be greatly missed.