James Nance

James Harold Nance, Jr. "Jim", 72 years of age, of Albemarle, passed away Wednesday, March 15, 2017 from complications due to quadriplegia.

Mr. Nance was born July 3, 1944 in North Carolina to James Harold Nance, Sr. "Buck" and Lucille Cody Nance.

Leaving behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 50 years, Anne Wolfe Nance; daughter, Amie Nance Koporc (Randy) of Mason, Ohio; son, James Harold Nance III "Rusty" (Bridget) of Hope Mills, NC; five grandchildren, Nathan and Madison Nance, Carson, Cameron, and Ryan James Koporc. Other survivors include his brother Jeff Nance (Cathy) of Albemarle; nieces, Stacey Johnson of Apex; Brittany McGee and Jodie Nance of Albemarle.

Friends and family are welcome to view and pay their respects to Jim on Friday, March 24, anytime between the hours of 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. at Hartsell Funeral Home where his body will lie in state.

Services to celebrate Jim's life will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at his life-time church, Salem United Methodist Church on Highway 73. Rev. Steve Combs will officiate. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Interment, with full military honors, will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at a reception/lunch in the church hut immediately following the burial.

Jim graduated from Albemarle High School in 1962 and then attended Wingate Junior College. He studied further at High Point College and Pfeiffer University. Jim volunteered and served in the US Army in Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with letter "V" device for valor; Army Commendations Medal; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device; Airborne Wings; Combat Infantryman Badge; and the Expert Badge with Rifle Bar. His foreign decorations include the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Upon his return from overseas, Jim worked with his father in the family business, Albemarle Electric Supply, until his father's illness caused the business to close. Jim then went into banking, working in Charlotte and Albemarle for First Citizens Bank and then the Bank of Stanly. Later in his career, he became the Veterans' Service Officer for Stanly County. He worked there until his car accident in June 1995. Jim was a member of numerous veteran organizations and was active in both his community and his church. He was selected as the VFW 2908 Man of the Year for 1991-1992 and received many other awards for his service to veterans.

Memorials may be made to the Building Fund or the Cemetery Fund at Salem UMC, 20987 NC 73 Hwy, Albemarle, NC 28001, the Millingport Volunteer Fire Department, or to Hospice of Stanly and the Uwharries, 960 North First Street, Albemarle, NC 28001

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Nance family.