PAUL P. VANCE

BANGOR – Paul P. Vance of Bangor died June 20, 2004, at the Maine Veterans Home in Bangor. He married Marguerite E. Welch, daughter of Bernard P. Welch Sr. and Catherine T. Kerrigan Welch in 1948. He was retired from the U.S. Air Force and from the Maine Central Railroad after 32 years of service. Paul was a veteran of World War II, serving in England, France, Luxembourg and Germany. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving with the U.S. Air Force in Japan, and Korea 1951 and 1952 under the United Nations Command. He retired from the military after 36 years in the regular forces, on active duty with the Army and the Army Reserve Infantry, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Air Force Reserves, and the Air National Guard. He was awarded the following medals and citations during his military career: the Air Force outstanding unit award with two-Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, European, African and Middle East Medal with one Battle Star, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Air Force Reserve Meritorious Services from September 1963 to May 1981 with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service while assigned as KC-135 Electrical Quality Control Inspector of the 101st Consolidated Maintenance Squadron, Small Arms Expert Marksman Medal, U.S. Service Medal, State of Maine Honorable Service Medal with a Silver Star. He also qualified as a Sharpshooter with the 03 Springfield and M1 rifles. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for Selfless Service and brave accomplishments during World War II from the U.S. Veterans of Luxembourg and the Legion of Honor Award from the Chapel of the Four Chaplains June 19, 2002. He also served with the military during the Cold War. He was predeceased by his lovely wife of 53 years, Marguerite, in 2001. Surviving are his children, Joan N. Moore and her husband, James, of Calais, Richard B. Vance and his wife, Kim, of Bangor, Paula J. McCafferty of Otis, and Philip H. Vance and his wife, Holly, of Newport Richie, Fla.; three grandsons, Jonathan R. Vance and Ethan P. Vance of Bangor, Nicholias P. Vance of Newport Richie, Fla.; and one granddaughter, Brandi N. Vance of Newport Richie, Fla. He was a life member of the VFW Post 1761 of Bangor, life member of the Knights of Columbus Pine Cone Council 114 and also a 4th Degree Member, a life member of the Non-Commission Officers Assoc., life member of the Long Rifle Club of Stetson (Black Powder) and a life member of the Hampden Pistol Club, and a member of the Northeast Trainriders. He was the founder of Vance’s Radio and TV Sales and Service, which was one of the first TV repair shops in Bangor. He sold and serviced Motorola TV’s and did the factory service on Motorola’s. He opened Vance’s TV and Electric, added the electrical contracting business to the TV business, later selling the radio and TV business and continued building Vance’s Electric Business, known as Vance’s Electric Service. His last venture was establishing high tech electrical services. He stayed current with the electrical business by being a member of the Down Eastern and the Penobscot Electrical Association’s. Paul trained with the George Washington Trade School in Newport News, Va., in the electrical field. He graduated from the National Radio Institute as Radio and Telitrician, trained with the New York Central Railroad on steam and diesel locomotive electrical systems in Bucyrus, Ohio, trained on the Pennsylvania Railroad in the shops in Wilmington, Del., on electrical locomotive electrical systems, trained with the RCA Institute of New Jersey on colored TV, Solid State Circuitry and Nuclear Instrumentation, trained with the Air Force on aircraft electrical systems and solid state circuitry. Paul was a master electrician in the state of Maine and had a private pilot’s license for single engine prop planes. Paul went back to college after retiring, studied music, American history, studied voice with Mr. Cupp for four years in the 60s and took piano lessons for eight years with Mrs. Pendelton. Paul loved singing, he sang in the St. John’s and St. Mary’s church choirs and St. John’s Catholic Church Choir of Love. He was a barbershopper. He traveled to Luxembourg in 2002 with St. John’s Choir and to Austria and the Czech Republic with the U of M Oratorio Society in June and July 2003. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9 a.m. Friday, June 25, at St. John’s Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Richard C. McLaughlin officiating. There are no visiting hours at Paul’s request. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John’s Catholic Church’s Vision 2000 Fund, 207 York St., Bangor. Burial will be in the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. Arrangements by Foley Funeral Service.