JOSEPH STERLING VANCE JR.

Retired Master Sgt. Joseph Sterling Vance Jr., USAF, 81, beloved husband of 54 years to Celima San Esteban Vance, died on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital in Sumter.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Walter and Dorothy Morris. Mr. Vance served his country in the United States Air Force and retired after 22 years of service. Following his retirement from the Air Force, he went on to become a Metropolitan Life Insurance agent, the former owner of Valleyview Skating Rink, an airplane scheduling and planning consultant in Saudi Arabia for McDonnell Douglas, worked with the county jail and was an education consultant at Shaw Air Force Base. He was involved with and flew with the aero club in the Philippines. Mr. Vance was well loved and always enjoyed talking with people. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. Mr. Vance was a member of Our Lady of the Skies, Palmetto Chapel, on Shaw Air Force Base.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Celima, of Sumter is one son, Michael Joseph Vance of Everett, Washington.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel. The interment will follow with full military honors in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family will receive friends prior to the service on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Bullock Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Our Lady of the Skies via www.acceptiva.com/afcc and selecting Shaw Air Force Base, Catholic Chapel.

You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family's guest book.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.