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‘ExempIury Public Service’

Click to see original imageDr. R. Wendell Vance, whose funeral will be held Monday, won recognition as a respected physician – but his sphere of influence extended far beyond the practice of medicine and reached into several avenues of service to communityand state. Lions Club leader and promulgator of Lionism’s creed of service; president of the Provo Industrial Development Committee dedicated to developing jobs and payrolls; supporter of the cultural arts – these are some of Dr. Vance’s major fields of civic and community endeavor. He excelled in each. I-lis fellow Lions elected him president of the Provo club and district governor, and named him “Lion of the Year” for 1977 in the Utah District. The Provo City Commission took occasion several weeks ago to honor him for “exemplary public service” to the city, especially as head of the PIDC. As an advocate of music he served as vice president both of the Utah Valley Opera Association and the Utah Federation of Music Clubs. In two assignments associated with his profession, Dr. Vance served as Provo City physician from January 1974 to August 1977, and for many years as physician for Brigham Young University athletic teams, giving service and encouragement far beyond the re quirements of the calling. As president of the Provo Chamber of Commerce in 1968, he provided energetic leadership. His church service included tenure as a bishop in Chicago prior to the family’s returning to Provo in 1957. Dr. Vance and his wife Ora inculcated a love for music into their own family and all of their children excelled, particularly in string and vocal music. One of his great joys was accompanying the children as they performed in solos, ensembles, and orchestral groups. Within their own family, the Vances could present a fine string quartet, with piano accompaniment and a vocal soloist to spare – something exceedingly unusual these days. A friend as well as doctor to his patients; congenial with friends and public ; supportive of any endeavor that would boost the community and its people – these were hallmarks of Dr. Vance, a man Provo will long remember.