Dale Leon Nance

Dale Leon Nance was born January 26, 1930 in Mannford, Oklahoma. He was the son of James Monroe and Verda Mae (Wallace) Nance. Dale was raised and attended school in Mannford. Upon completion of his education he accepted employment with National Tank Company (NATCO) as a welderís helper. Dale was married to Beatrice Pauline ìPollyî Gibbons on August 12, 1950 in Elk Point, South Dakota. Shortly after their marriage, Dale accepted employment with Sheffield Steel Corporation. On March 5, 1952, Dale was inducted into the service of his country in the United States Army. After basic training, Dale received specialized training to become a medic. Sergeant Nance was awarded the Combat Medical Badge for performing medical duties in the Korean War while his unit was engaged in active ground combat under hostile fire. He was also awarded the Sharp Shooters Badge, Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars, Korean War Medal, United Nations Service Medal for Korea, National Service Defense Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged on December 10, 1953 and returned to Polly in Oklahoma. Upon his discharge, Dale and Polly moved to the Old Keystone area as Dale returned to his job with Sheffield Steel and worked for nearly fifteen years through the United Steelworkers of America Union, Local 2741. During this time, the couple moved to Sand Springs in 1964 and then back to the Cleveland area in 1968. Dale later accepted a position in management as a maintenance foreman supervisor for ARMCO Steel for fifteen additional years, retiring on July 31, 1981. After his retirement, Dale and Polly enjoyed a snowbird lifestyle for a few years making annual trips to South Texas during the winters; they enjoyed traveling together. He enjoyed watching television and especially liked to watch his favorite team, the Chicago Cubs when they were playing. Dale also enjoyed listening to classic country including Bob Wills, Hank Williams and Johnny Lee Horton. Polly preceded him in death on October 27, 1999 after forty-nine years of marriage. Dale is survived by three sons and their wives, Mark and Rene Nance of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Roger and Deborah Nance of Plano, Texas and Randall and Debbie Nance of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren, Rise, Jason, Cory, Angela, Grace, Emily, Katlyn and Amelia; five great-grandchildren, Jenny, Rachel, Kayley, Austin and Kayla; a sister, Nadine Walton of Harrison, Missouri and a brother Jim Nance of Norman, Oklahoma. In addition to his wife Polly, Dale was preceded in death by his parents, one great-granddaughter Mikaela as well as a great-grandson, Mason. Dale passed away Saturday, July 24, 2010 at the Grace Living Center in Jenks, Oklahoma at the age of eighty. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at the Chapel of Chapman-Black Funeral Home with Hans Zandstra and Jimmy Nance officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Veterans of Foreign War Honor Guard at the Woodland Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Friends may share a memory with the family at the funeral home or online at www.chapman-black.com