RICHLANDS, Va. — Mr. Clarence Howard Vance, age 89, of Richlands, Va., passed away, Monday, December 7, 2009 in a Richlands, Va. hospital following a lengthy illness.

He was born in Russell County, Va. and was the son of the late Harry P. and Pricillar Miller Vance. Clarence had made his home in the Richlands area and was a prominent business owner. He was a member of the Gethsemane Baptist Church where he served as a Sunday School teacher and choir member for many years. He had served his country in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was a Staff Sergeant and served most of his military career on the USS Yorktown in the South Pacific. He was an active member in the U.S. Marine Corps League Detachment 980.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters and four brothers.

Those who survive him are his beloved wife, Phyllis L. Vance of Richlands, Va.; his daughters, Rebecca E. Buchanan and husband, Ed of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., Marcella A. Buskill-Walsh of Stafford, Va., Ann Dye and husband, Allen of Cedar Bluff, Va.; sister, Beulah Short of Morehead, Ind.; brother, Guy T. Vance of Morehead, Ind.; six grandchildren, Aaron A. Buskill, Amber Lankford, John Lankford, Grace Buchanan, Barbara Perkins and Sherry Reynolds. Also surviving are four great-grandchildren, Shawn Dillow, Jacob Shelton, Austin Reynolds and Sheyanne Reynolds.

Funeral services for Clarence Vance will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at the Gethsemane Baptist Church in Richlands, Va. with the Rev. James Denton and the Rev. Stafford Compton officiating. Entombment will follow at the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum in Claypool Hill, Va.

Pallbearers will be Aaron Buskill, John Lankford, Clancy Deel, Ed Buchanan, Jeffrey Blankenship and Don Matney. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Gethsemane Baptist Church and the Marine Corps League Detachment 980. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Casey-Shortt VFW Post # 9640.

Friends may call from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday evening at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Va. and one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the Gethsemane Baptist Church.

Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Va. is in charge of arrangements, and those wishing to send online condolences may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com