Joe Vance Obituary

Joseph Lee (Joe) Vance, born on August 20, 1936, peacefully stepped from this life into the awaiting arms of Jesus at 8:30 am on Friday, January 9, 2026.

A Celebration of Life, conducted by Brother Rob Amason and Chris Vance, will be held at 2 PM on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 in the chapel of Sellars Funeral Home, Lebanon, TN. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home from 4 PM – 8 PM on Tuesday evening and from 12 – 2 PM prior to the service on Wednesday. Interment in Cedar Grove Cemetery will follow the service.

Pallbearers: Phillip Vance, Chase Waller, Joseph Waller, Nikolai Horne, Chris Holmes, Justin Gamble, Josh Lee, Lunden Johnson, Colton Lee, Travis Horne, and Jason Horne.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Edna Vance, and brothers, Ed, Jimmy, Paul, Richard, and infant Harold Wayne Vance.

He is survived by the love of his life, Patsy, who he was married to for over 68 years, his four children, Jody (Judy) Vance, Valerie (Terry) Horne, Alesia (Wendell) Waller, and Chris (Jeanna) Vance, 16 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren (plus one on the way), sisters Alice Tubb, June (Larry) Parkerson, Ella Sue (David) Midgett, and Charlotte (Ronald) Jones, and brothers, Jerry (Sandra) Vance, Thomas (Kyle) Vance, and David (Susie) Vance, and a host of other nieces, nephews, and more.

Joe was born and raised on Vance Lane in Lebanon, and the farm never left his heart as he travelled the country as the safety director of Centex Rodgers, building dozens of hospitals and making sure that every contractor that walked on his jobsites made it home safely to their families.

He was also passionate about Vanderbilt sports and loved the banter with his wayward children and grands who wandered off the path to support the Vols.

But anyone who knew Joe knew that no matter where his travels took him, his heart was always with his family. He was tough as leather, but the tears were always near the surface any time you got him talking about Patsy, his kids, or his grandkids.

He also loved being outside, whether it was manicuring his own lawn or mowing half the neighborhood’s lawns after he retired.

While we are all heartbroken, we know he’s with the Lord. We know he told you about Him if you ever talked to him for more than five minutes. We love you and miss you, Daddy, but we know we’ll all get to see you again.

Sellars Funeral Home, Lebanon TN, 615.444.9393.

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