Eileen Crook VANCE

1921 - 2014

VANCE, Eileen Crook

Eileen Crook Vance, dearly loved by her family and friends, long time resident and community organizer in San Marcos, died in her home, surrounded by loved ones, October 4, 2014. She was 93 years old.



Eileen was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on February 5, 1921, to William George Crook and Violet Edith Devine Crook.



She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Gerald W. Vance; and her siblings: Ellen Crook Barber, Leonard Crook, George Robert Crook, and William Herbert Crook.



She is survived by her daughter Phyllis M. Vance and her sister-in-law Eleanor Crook, along with many beloved nieces, nephews and people who thought of her as a best friend or a second mother.



When Eileen was a child, her family moved from Canada to Chicago, and then to Aransas Pass, Texas, where she graduated from Aransas Pass High School in 1939. Soon afterwards, during the Second World War, she served as local head of the USO (United Service Organization), dedicated to providing morale to U.S. troops. During these years she also assisted the local doctor and helped to deliver countless babies, often driving rural coastal roads with the doctor at night, the car headlights covered to a pinprick in accordance with the local wartime blackout mandates. She married her fiancé Gerald Vance two days after his return from the war. Eileen befriended and nurtured countless members of the San Marcos community. She was a devoted and passionate member of the Scheib Mental Health board for many years. She was also active in helping Texas State University develop the Friends of Fine Arts and Communication, working with fellow arts lovers in the community to establish an arts support group with the university and the local community. In 2008, the "Friends" board of directors unanimously voted to bestow the title of Emerita in perpetuity to Eileen for her service to the organization.

Eileen's kindness, wisdom, infectious optimism and great capacity for joy and love will be deeply missed.



In lieu of flowers, Eileen requested donations be made to Smile Train, P.O. Box 96231, Washington, DC 20090-6231, or to the charity of your choice.



A Graveside Service will be held at 1:00 P.M., at Live Oak Cemetery, 200 Twin Creeks Road, Manchaca, TX 78652, followed by a Celebration of Eileen's Life at 2:30 P.M., in the Chapel at Pennington Funeral Home, on Saturday, October 11, 2014.



Arrangements by Pennington Funeral Home, 323 N. Comanche, San Marcos, Texas 78666, 512-353-4311. www.penningtonfuneralhome.com