Lt. Col. Jon C. Vance

Lt. Col. Jon Charles Vance, US Air Force Retired, passed from this life on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at age 88. Jon was born December 27, 1934, in Oak Park, Illinois to Bliss Vance and Ida Catherine (Anderson) Vance.

Jon proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for 22 years as a B-52 Pilot and Instructor Pilot with over 6,000 hours of flight time. He flew 3 Arc Light tours in Vietnam completing 83 successful missions earning many distinguished service awards.

As an Aviation Cadet in February 1959, Jon met the love of his life Sylvia McAden on the campus of Texas Tech. They were married 10 months later on December 20th and celebrated 61 blissful years together. Military assignments took them to Louisiana, Texas, New York, California, Guam, and back to Texas settling in Weatherford in 1977, where Jon retired shortly after. He worked as Vice President of Mutual Building & Loan Association from 1980 – 1982. Jon and Sylvia then established Vance Enterprises, a promotional advertising company consulting and supporting many businesses, organizations, and friends around the world. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Beloit College, the Order of Daedalians, Rotary International, Weatherford Chamber of Commerce & the Ambassadors Club, Cowtown Executive Association, and Parker County Executive Association. Jon was an avid fisherman, photographer, and gardener with a fondness for Japanese maples, iris, and amaryllis. He never met a stranger, always enjoyed hearing one’s story, and was a loyal friend to many.

Jon was preceded in death by his parents, Bliss and Ida Vance; his adored siblings, Robert Vance and Virginia Vance; and his beloved wife, Sylvia Vance.

Jon is survived and celebrated by his son, Kevin Vance and wife, Julia Dyer of Denton, Texas; daughter, Shaun Erickson, and husband, Randy of Weatherford, Texas; six grandchildren, Amanda (Brandon) McDaniel, Stefanie Brice, Caty Vance, Ian Vance, Danny Erickson, and Jessie Erickson; and seven great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 15, 2024, at the Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel, in Weatherford, Texas.