Thursday, July 21, 2005
Story last updated at 11:47 AM on Thursday, July 21, 2005
Earl R. Lance








Earl Richard Lance, 86, a resident of Independence, Mo., and a former resident of Neodesha, Kan., died Monday, July 18, 2005, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.
Earl was born April 30, 1919, in Buffalo, Kan., the son of Chester Arthur and Grace Myrtle (Cox) Lance. He grew up near Roper, Kan., and graduated from Benedict High School in 1938. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945, as a radio technician and was stationed in Papua, New Guinea during World War II. On June 19, 1948, in Bentonville, Ark., he married Betty Lou Weaver, they celebrated their 57th year of marriage this past June. Together they had four children. From 1948 to 1951, he lived in Fredonia and was a carpenter on the Fall River Dam project. In 1951, he moved to Neodesha, where he worked as an instrument technician/mechanic for the Standard Oil Co. In 1970, he was transferred to the Amoco plant in Sugar Creek, Mo., and resided in Independence. He retired in 1981. Along with his brother, Calvin, he was one of the primary volunteer builders of the Nazarene Church in Neodesha. He enjoyed farming, outdoor activities and athletic events. He was involved in his children's activities, including coaching little league baseball and serving as a Weebelo Scout master. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Loraine, Dearl, Oscar and Calvin, and three sisters, Myrtle Guye, Ruth James and Evelyn Timmons.

His survivors include his wife, Betty Lance; one daughter, Diana Hutchison, Garden Plain, Kan.; three sons, Mike Lance and Richard Lance, both of Independence, and Ryan Lance of New York City, N.Y.; three brothers, Arthur Lance of Alvin, Texas, Gerald Lance of Fredonia, Kan., and Lyle Lance of Sedgwick, Kan.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, July 22, at the Church of the Nazarene, Neodesha, Kan. Burial will be in the Neodesha Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 tonight at Timmons Funeral Home, Fredonia, (620) 378-4111. Memorials have been established in his name with the Arthritis Foundation and the Veterans Administration and may be sent to the funeral home, Timmons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 168, Fredonia, Kan. 66736.