Harold M. Vance, 95, of Crystal City died March 8, 2023, at his home. Mr. Vance was the mayor of Crystal City from 1971-1974. He retired in 1982 after 36 years of employment from Pittsburgh Plate Glass, where his favorite task was running the lathe. In 1957, at age 30, he was elected as Ward 4 Crystal City Councilmen, at the time the youngest councilman ever elected in the city. He was chair of both the Crystal City Library and City Building committees, was chairman of the Street Board and served as a police judge. He saerved as chairman of the Park Board and was instrumental in procuring the first recreational federal grant for Crystal City in 1967, which was used to build the public swimming pool still in operation today. He was a Crystal City volunteer fireman for more than 35 years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, caring for his cats, planting hundreds of flowers each year and feeding the critters that visited his yard each day. Born May 6, 1927, in Shelbyville, Tenn., he was the son of the late Zenobia (Norris) and Jasper Clyde Vance. He was preceded in death by his wife: Marion Sue (Naumann) Vance.
He is survived by three daughters: Roxanna (Robert) McVey of Crystal City, Debra (Tim) Marler of Crystal City, and Tina (Karl) Blum of Trenton; seven grandchildren: Stacy (Chris) Spradling of St. Peters, Zac (Amanda) McVey of Festus, Sashya Dean of Crystal City, Tim (Ashley) Marler of North Charleston, S.C., Teri (Andy) Mull of Pensacola, Fla., Jennifer (Matt) Johnston of De Soto, and Jessica (Bryan) Alexander of Hillsboro; several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and many other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by four brothers: Jasper Clyde Vance Jr., Charles Edward Vance, Donald Lee Vance, and Larry Daniel Vance Sr.; and four sisters: Jeanne (Vance) Vaughn, Marilyn (Vance) Hogenmiller, JoAnn (Vance) Backer, and Doris June (Vance) Lewis Mahn.
A funeral procession was held March 10, starting at Mahn Twin City Chapel in Festus and ending at the graveside service at Shepherd Hills Cemetery in Barnhart, officiated by Pastor Chuck Hoskins. Memorials may be made to the Crystal City Library. Arrangements were under the direction of Mahn Twin City Chapel.