Vance England

Vance E. England, age 94, resident of Richmond from 1966 until 2018, died Tuesday, Feb. 17th, 2026, at St. Ann’s Community Assisted Care facility, in Rochester, NY. Predeceased by beloved wife of 55 years Ann (Rosella McBride), parents Eleanor (Greene) Henderson and Edward England, sister Shirley Steward, and brother Robert England, and much-loved in-laws Don and Reba McBride.

Born November 18, 1931, in Pasco, Washington, Vance grew up in the high desert of South-Central Washington. He graduated High School in 1950 from Yakima High School in Washington before joining the Navy and serving as a Corpsman from 1951 to 1954 on the USS Princeton Aircraft Carrier (CV-37) during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Vance settled in San Diego where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1959 from San Diego State College and thereupon began teaching Social Studies and English in Escondido, California. Around this time he got his private pilot’s license and would spend weekends renting whatever plane was available to fly around in the skies of Southern California.

While teaching in Escondido, he was introduced as a blind date to another young teacher by sweet mutual friends at a picnic serving the worst hamburgers that either of could ever later recall having eaten. This was Ann McBride, his wife-to-be and love of his life. Despite the hamburgers, they were not deterred and married several months later, in August of 1961. After having children Melissa and Jeffry in Escondido, Ann and Vance moved in 1966 to Richmond, Indiana, Ann’s hometown, and added son Scott to their family. There Vance earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Ball State University while teaching Social Studies and English and coaching speech and debate teams at Pleasant View Junior High, English and History at RHS Night School, and English and Social Studies at Hibberd Middle School. Though he retired from formal public school teaching in 1995, Vance continued informal teaching during frequent visits with his homeschooled grandsons in upstate New York.

Vance spent his many of his summers off working for the Richmond Parks Department as a bus driver to Cincinnati Reds games for the Seniors Workers Action Center as well as around town for the Summer Playgrounds program. He delivered school busses around the country for Wayne Works school bus manufacturer during school summer breaks and after retirement. During retirement he worked as a volunteer 10 years at Reid Hospital as well as at the Richmond Senior Center. He also found time to travel with Ann to visit their son Scott in Las Vegas, son Jeff and his family in various locales in Europe, and cruise with friends -- especially enjoying Alaska. Vance was a member of VFW 1108. He enjoyed competing in service rifle matches and also utilized his teaching background as an instructor in the Junior Marksmanship program at Old Trails Rifle and Pistol club, where he was a member for well over 30 years. For most of his years in Richmond, Vance attended Trinity United Methodist Church with his family; while visiting and later living with his daughter and her family in Rochester he attended the Protection of the Mother of God (old ROCOR) and then Holy Ascension (HSIR-GOC) Orthodox parishes.

Vance and his wife Ann were blessed with a large and close family: daughter Melissa and husband Peter Bushunow of Pittsford, New York and their children Sergei, Alexei and wife Gabrielle, Vasilii and wife Alyssa with daughter Alexandra, Symeon ,and Dimitri; son Jeff England and wife René Alexander of Maniago, Italy, their sons Owen and Tate England; and son Scott England and wife Melanie Evangelista of Las Vegas, Nevada and their son Kimo Flores; sister-in-law, Pat Bosell of California; brother-in-law, Patrick Mehlman and wife Alexia Lewnes of Sante Fe, NM; nephew T.L. Bosell and wife Gay, their daughters Eva and Kinsey; nephew Casey Bosell and wife Alisa, their daughters Megan, Sydney with son Oliver, and Amy; nephew Kip and wife Stephanie (both deceased) and son Andrew; niece Kim Bosell and family Kelsey, Natalie, and Kip; cousin Nancy Hazelbaker. He will be missed by many more relatives and close friends around the country and world.

A Panachida will be held on Friday, February 20th at 6:30 PM at Holy Ascension Orthodox Church. A funeral liturgy will be Saturday, February 21st at 9 AM. Internment will be in Richmond, IN at Earlham Cemetery next to his wife, Ann.