Vance Gaylord Moore, 94, of Jacksonville, Fla., passed away August 16, 2026.
He was born in Greenville, Mich., on January 16, 1932, where he grew up climbing apple trees, hunting small game, and spearing pike until joining the Navy at age 18.
Vance proudly served his country in the United States Navy for 27 years before retiring in 1978 as a respected Senior Chief Petty Officer. His first duty was on the USS Bennington as an aircraft mechanic. The Bennington had a wooden deck, and Vance often told stories of how, when the Navy changed from propeller to jet aircraft, the deck of the Bennington would catch fire…