Obituary for Ruth Lance

It is with great sadness that the family of Ruth Ethel Lance announces her passing after a brief illness, on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at the age of 92 years.

Born in 1925 in Hayesville, NC, to Rev. Oda & Minnie Rogers, Ruth leaves behind her siblings Rev. Jim (Helen) Rogers, John (Linda) Rogers, and Dayton Moss; her three children Louise (Archie) Harper, Linda (Joe) Woods, and Rev. John (Stephanie) Lance, Jr.; her grandchildren Richard Yates, Phillip Yates, Brad (Melissa) Yates, Angelyn (Don) Tuttle, Jennifer (Phil) Carlson, Patrick (Kristina) Ware, Bob (Cheree Williams) Ware, Amy (Gregory Sanders) Ware, and Jonathan (Tiffany) Lance; and her great-grandchildren Tommy Yates, Alivia Yates, Natalie Yates, Jacob Yates, Gabriel Yates, Tyler Kershaw, Charlie Tuttle, Joey Tuttle, Lucy Tuttle, Chloe Carlson, Cooper Carlson, Logan Carlson, Griffin Carlson, Addison Lance, McKenzie Lance, and Oaklyn Lance, as well as numerous friends and extended family. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Rev. John Lance, Sr., her daughter Becky Ware, son-in-law Peter Ware, her brothers Clarence Rogers and Bill Rogers, her sister Nora Barnhill, and her grandson Jeremy Lance.

Ruth and John married on June 25, 1944, in Hiawassee, GA. The happy couple then relocated to Childers, TX, where John was stationed in the Army Air Corps. After John was discharged from the Army, the Lance family returned east and settled in Atlanta.

Ruth worked with the DeKalb County School System for 26 years, initially driving school buses and eventually advancing to become a driving instructor and administrator.

Ruth was a member of Pine Lake Baptist Church for over 40 years, where John was pastor for five years. After his passing and her retirement, she continued to be very active in the church, serving in various capacities including leading the Seniors’ Sunday School group and organizing Homecoming.

A memorial visitation will be held 6–8 p.m. on Friday, April 20, 2018, at A. S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home in Decatur, GA. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, 2018, at Old Union Baptist Church in Young Harris, GA. She will be interred beside John at Meadow Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Hayesville, NC.

Memorial donations may be made in Ruth’s memory to Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Townson-Rose Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.


You may send tributes to the family at www.townson-rose.com