Addison Lance Jr.

  • August 29, 2012
  • 483
                        
Addison Honor Lance Jr., better known as JR, died peacefully August 25, 2012, at Smithville-Western Care Center, Wooster. JR was born May 24, 1932, in Seville, to the late Addison Honor and Helen Lovinia Lance. He had lived in the Seville and Sterling areas all his life until he became ill, and then became a resident at Smithville-Western Care Center. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2005. He retired from the Maibach Furniture Store in 2007 after working there for 42 years, and was very fond of the Maibach family and all of the customers during his employment. Prior to Maibach’s Furniture, he was manager of Wayside Market and Kroger, Seville. JR was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 and served in Korea from 1953-54 as a medic serving the Medic Co. 17th Infantry. He received a Korean Service Ribbon, Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and Medical Badge. He loved telling everyone of the time he saw Marilyn Monroe and taking pictures of her while in Korea. He was very involved and dedicated to the Seville VFW Post 8753, having been the post commander for 28 years. He truly enjoyed his duties as the commander. For many years until his illness, he would spend every Sunday afternoon visiting the veterans in the Brecksville hospital. He was very involved in many veteran events. JR was instrumental in founding Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Rittman. He was very proud of the cemetery. When he became unable to drive, his sister and brother-in-law would take him to visit the cemetery every Saturday afternoon. He never wanted to miss any of the memorial services. He was involved in the planning committee at the cemetery, working with the first director, Jeff Teas. JR was the first chairman of the advisory committee and spent many hours volunteering at the Public Information Center, as well as fulfilling many other responsibilities. JR never turned down an opportunity to help anyone with any memorial service which needed to be done, even if it was short notice. He was an avid lifelong fan of the Cleveland Indians and Browns. He was even the president of the Tri-County Browns Backers for quite a few years. JR was very well known in the area and many will remember his “JR’s Peppers” that he proudly canned. He would talk about how many pepper plants he would raise and preserve. This was something that he looked forward to every year. When he was a resident of Wayne Manor, he even asked his niece, Vicki, to bring peppers from her garden to him so that he could help her cut them up. She had taken over his traditional “JR’s Peppers” canning duties. Surviving are brothers, Kenny Lance of Canton and George (Betty) Lance of Tamarac, Fla.; sister, Carol (Dave) Boyles of Wooster; nieces, Lori Boyles (Paul Gould) of Sewickley, Pa., and Vicki Boyles of Rittman; nephews, John (Bethany) Lance and Rick Lance, both of Delaware; great-nephews and -nieces, Anna, Kate, and Bode Lance of Delaware and Addison and Matilda Gould of Sewickley, Pa.; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by a brother, Donnie Lance. Services will be held August 30, at 1:30 p.m., at Seville Methodist Church. Interment will be in Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, with honors. Visitation will be August 29, from 4-8 p.m. Arrangements are being handled by Armstrong Funeral Home, Seville. Memorial contributions may be made to Seville VFW Post 8753, 106 1/2 E. Main St., Seville 44273; the Sterling Fire Department, 13985 Kauffman Ave., Sterling 44276; or Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, 10175 Rawiga Rd., Rittman 44270. JR’s family would like to extend their thanks to Don and Ruth Glessner for their help during his illness; to Dave Montgomery, his staff, and friends at Bradley’s Restaurant, Sterling, for the numerous times they delivered meals to JR when he became ill; and to the Sterling neighbors who took food to him and helped him in different ways. Also, to the staff at Wayne Manor, Smithville-Western Care Center, and Hospice team for their kindness and help, and to the many friends who visited and sent cards to him. Everything has been greatly appreciated by his family.


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