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<p>We should all hope for such an obituary when our time comes. I
always enjoyed working with Sam and our chance encounters at
various theatrical events across town.<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 8/29/2024 10:06 AM, Cecil Stokes
wrote:<br>
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cite="mid:b299a5f5-7352-41d4-b42f-5694e7577c84@hiwaay.net">
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<h2>Samuel Ledcreigh Vance Obituary</h2>
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<p>Samuel Ledcreigh Vance, 88, of Huntsville passed away at home
on August 22nd of natural causes, surrounded by his family. He
was born in Louisville, KY to Ledcreich Stuart and Frances Ervin
Vance and was a graduate of Atherton High School. He attended
Vanderbilt University and graduated with a BS in chemical
engineering 1958.</p>
<p>While at college, he was set up on a blind date with Mary
Dolores Patton by their respective best friends. While their
friends were making out in the front seat of the car, Sam and
Dolores discovered their mutual love of the songs of Tom Lehrer
and (much to their friends’ dismay) spent the evening singing
songs like "Fight Fiercely, Harvard”, “When You Are Old and
Gray”, and the classic “Be Prepared”:</p>
<ul>
<li>If you're looking for adventure of a new and different kind</li>
<li>And you come across a Girl Scout who is similarly inclined</li>
<li>Don't be nervous, don't be flustered, don't be scared</li>
<li>Be prepared!</li>
</ul>
<p>Sam and Dolores became engaged in 1958 and married on February
7, 1959. Sam and Dolores moved to Huntsville, AL that year for
Sam to join Thiokol Chemical Corporation, where he worked on
propellants and explosives. Sam and Dolores welcomed their two
sons, Ledcreigh Stuart in 1963 and William Huntoon in 1966.</p>
<p>Early in his career, Sam displayed a certain amount of bravado
by bringing home strips of propellant and on July 4th, shooting
them out of a homemade launcher. The strips would fire off at
great speed, and being flexible, performed exciting aerobatics
before burning out. This practice ended in 1969, when one of the
strips rocketed into a neighbor’s bush, vaporizing it on
contact. Fortunately, their home exterior was brick, so the
damage was limited to the foliage. After that, his boys were
allowed only sparklers.</p>
<p>Sam, being a man of the Silent Generation, began fatherhood
suffering from Stoic Male Syndrome. As his sons grew, his views
of life and family softened a great deal. He helped his boys
with math and science homework, did set construction for school
plays, and attended races run by his youngest, Billy. The first
time Stuart came home from college, rather than shaking hands,
Sam gave him a bear hug. Stuart’s response was, “Who are you and
what have you done with my father?” Later in life, Sam would
tear up at the drop of a hat.</p>
<p>Sam was a man of both refined as well as prurient interests. He
subscribed to Playboy magazine for almost 40 years, claiming
that he read the magazine primarily for the articles. He was a
fan of classical, folk, and Celtic music, and was a great
supporter of Huntsville’s public radio station, WLRH. He owned
the entire discography of Oscar Brand’s Bawdy Songs and Backroom
Ballads but held off introducing them to his sons until their
late teens. Not because he was concerned for their
sensibilities, but because he didn’t think that they would be
able to appreciate the humor in songs like “None Is Bigger Than
Mine”, “Friggin in the Rigging”, and “The One-Eyed Riley”.</p>
<p>Sam was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores, son, Billy,
daughter-in-law, Flo, and granddaughters, Sami and Cara. He is
survived by his son, Stuart; daughter-in-law, Teri;
granddaughter, Nikki; grandson-in-law, Maluhia; and
great-grandsons, Kamakana and Lanakila.</p>
<p>Sam will be buried with his son, Billy, alongside Dolores in
Spring Hill Graveyard in Mobile, AL later this year. A wake will
be held in Huntsville in his honor on Wednesday September 4th at
5:00 p.m. at his and Dolores’ favorite restaurant, Mangia
Italian Restaurant at 2288 Zierdt Road. Please RSVP to <a
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="mailto:ledcreigh@gmail.com" moz-do-not-send="true">ledcreigh@gmail.com</a>
if you would like to attend.</p>
<p>Donations in his memory may be made to WLRH at <a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://aptv.org/wlrh-donation/" moz-do-not-send="true">https://aptv.org/wlrh-donation/</a>.</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.laughlinservice.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=32928965"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.laughlinservice.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=32928965</a><br>
</p>
<br>
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