Eva Christina Vance

Eva Christina Vance, aged 83, died peacefully on April 21, 2018, at her daughter’s home in College Station, Texas, after a brief struggle with cancer. Eva was born September 30, 1934, on a farm just outside Brentford, South Dakota, the youngest child of Signa and Harry Hopkins.

Eva thoroughly enjoyed athletics and the outdoors but her greatest passion was her gift for music which she excelled at. She learned to play the piano at a very early age, performing for church groups and other social events throughout her life. Although she could play the trumpet and other musical instruments it was her angelic and powerful singing voice that separated her from her peers.

Her early years of education were spent in her hometown of Brentford, South Dakota; however, she went on to graduate from the Wesleyan Methodist High School in Miltonvale, Kansas, where she focused her studies around music. She went on to attend Northwestern University for a year, majoring in music before marrying George B. Vance of Redfield, South Dakota.

In addition to raising their four children she also volunteered at her local church as musical director and was a consummate home maker. In 1984, Eva moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she ultimately retired from her career with Maricopa County Corrections.

Eva is survived by her sister Helen, her sons Edward and Jerry Vance, her daughters Janice Arvo and Tricia Anderson along with twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She also leaves behind numerous loving relatives and friends.

There will be a private funeral service for family members and friends at the Mellette, South Dakota Cemetery on May 19th, 2018.