Billy Nance

Billy M. "Bill" Nance, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, July 25, 2010, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 21, 1927, in Newport, Ark., to Grover C. and Annie Lee Hutchens Nance. He and Delphin Lee Gray were married 55 years.

Bill served three years' active duty in the Air Force and was honorably discharged as a technical sergeant in January 1949. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the USAF Reserve and was discharged as a first lieutenant in 1959.

He attended public schools in Newport and was named to the 1945 All-State Arkansas High School football team. He was a graduate of Little Rock Junior College in Little Rock, Ark., where he lettered in football and baseball and was a member of the Junior College National Championship football squad in 1949. He earned a BSE from University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and a MSE from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, and completed advanced graduate study from the University of Tennessee in Memphis.

Bill had been a coach and teacher in Arkansas public schools at Pocahontas, Truman and Wynne. He was also a football and track coach and instructor at schools in Hayti and Portageville, Mo.

He was Portageville High School principal from 1968 to 1970. He served as supervising principal from 1970 to 1971 and unit administrator in charge from 1971 to 1986 of the Portageville Unit of New Madrid County Reorganized School District 1 Enlarged.

Bill was a member of Missouri State Teachers Association, National Education Association, Community Teachers Association and Phi Delta Kappa. He was secretary-treasurer of Southeast Missouri Activities Association 1966 to 1967 and was the organization's president 1975 to 1976. From 1972 to 1973 he was president of the Lion's Club in Portageville.

He was baptized in the Protestant faith and was affiliated with the Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Delphin Lee Nance of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Diane (Scott) Buescher of Jackson; two sons, Bill (Kay) Nance Jr. of New Madrid, Mo., Gary (Denise) Nance of Davison, Mich.; three grandchildren, Chris Nance of Sikeston, Mo., Travis Nance of Davison, Ben Buescher of Jackson; two stepgrandchildren, Danielle (Richard) Hankinson of Centreville, Va., Joshua (Allison) Albert of Kalkaska, Mich.; two great-stepgrandchildren, Alexandria Hankinson and Henry Albert; and a sister, Joan Brown of Overland Park, Kan.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a stepson, Morris Waller; three brothers, Jessie, Gus and G.C. Nance; and a sister, Lois Adcox.

There is no visitation.

Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield. Full military honors will be provided by Missouri Honors Team.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be given to Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, P.O. Box 566, 17357 Stars & Stripes Way, Bloomfield, MO 63825; or Missouri Veterans Home, 2400 Veterans Memorial Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.