William (Bill) L. Lance, 83, passed away at his home in Centre Hall on Monday September 12, 2016.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, friend and bookkeeping consultant.
He was born September 28, 1932 in Bradford, PA a son of the late Alvin Robert Lance and Bertha Abplanalp Lance.
On August 13, 1955, he married Wanda Faye Payne Lance who preceded him in death June 16, 2016, breaking a marriage bond of over sixty years. He cherished every moment with Wanda, and their greatest joy was spending time with family.
Bill was a graduate of Blairsville High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from State Teachers College at Indiana, Pennsylvania and went on to earn a Master of Education from the Penn State University.
During the Korean Conflict, he served as a Paratrooper in the U. S. Army, earning the rank of Sergeant.
Early in life he worked as an office manager in the lumber business. His teaching career was spent at Penns Valley Area High School teaching Business Courses; serving as a Junior Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach and served as Athletic Director for nineteen years for the school. In addition Mr. Lance worked as an accountant for over fifty years for Miller Motors, and as an accountant for Miller& Reese Bus Company and served as a bookkeeper for several local businesses. He volunteered and assisted with establishing the financial systems of several local business ventures, as well as assisting the Borough of Centre Hall with upgrading their financial systems and serving as an auditor for the Borough. Over a period of many years he was one of the instructors for the Centre Hall summer playground activities at the Grange Fair facility.
Mr. Lance was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Centre Hall having served as chairperson of the finance committee, church treasurer, and Sunday School Teacher. He had the distinction of serving on the steering committee of the historic and unique three church denomination merger between the Evangelical United Brethren Church, in Centre Hall, the Presbyterian Church in Centre Hall and the United Methodist Church in Centre Hall. He later served as the Chairperson of the building committee during the first expansion of the Grace United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Lodge 1600, State College, PA. He was a member of the various teacher organizations including the local PVEA, the State PSEA and the national NEA. Bill was an avid sports enthusiast, who especially enjoyed Penn State Men's Basketball games and watching sporting events on television especially the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He enjoyed playing Golf and bowling with a group of teachers.
Surviving Mr. Lance is a daughter, Judy L. Lance of Laurel, MD; two sons, William (Bill) L. Lance Jr. (Nancy) of Angola, NY and James (Jim) Lance (Lori) of Glen Ridge, NJ; five grandchildren, Michelle Renee Zangerle (Adam), Stephanie Faye Ahern (Patrick), Madison Kay Lance, Sydney James Lance and Mikala Faye Goddard; and two great-granddaughters, Claire Faye Zangerle and Abagale Evelyn Zangerle. He is survived by one sister Alice Jean Lance Pease.
In addition to his parents and wife he was preceded in death by a daughter Donna Faye Lance Goddard, two sisters Elizabeth Anne Lance Renwick and Dorothy Maye Lance Kelon, and one brother John Robert Lance.
Friends will be received from 6 - 8 p. m. Friday September 16. 2016 at Grace United Methodist Church, 127 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Centre Hall. The funeral will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, September 17, 2016, at Grace United Methodist Church 127 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Centre Hall, with the Reverend(s) Mark Messner and Judith Hulslander officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the Reformed and Lutheran Cemetery, West Church St. Centre Hall.]
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Grace United Methodist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 292 Centre Hall, PA 16828.
An online guest book can be signed or condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com.