Major Vincent Alton Bass ANC, USAR, Ret.

Major Bass departed this life for his final heavenly mission on December 21, 2017. He grew up in the Leland area north of Fredericksburg, VA in Stafford County, attended public schools and was graduated from Stafford High School in June of 1963. He enlisted in the Navy in August, 1963, and was a Hospital Corpsman for 13 years, two of those years being attached to or assigned with USMC infantry as an FMF Corpsman. His multiple naval duty stations included Great lakes, IL, Quantico USNH, VA, Pearl Harbor, HI, Kaneohe MCAS, Hawaii, I Corps RVN North of DaNang during the Vietnam War and Camps Hansen & Smeadly D. Butler in Okinawa. He attended Memphis State University, where he received his Associate Degree in Nursing in June, 1975, he remained in the Naval Reserve at Millington Naval Air Station. He was employed by the Veterans Health Administration as a Critical Care Nurse beginning in 1975 assigned to the Carl Vinson VAMC, completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1980 and was commissioned a 1st Lt. in the ANC, USAR, assigned to the 18th Field Hospital, Augusta, GA. He returned to Richmond, VA in 1984 where he worked at the McGuire VAMC, and remained in the Army Nurse Corps, USAR, until 2005, which included service with the 56th Station Hospital in Richmond. He was attached to the U.S. Army 49th Combat Support Hospital in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and Fort Sam Houston, TX during the Desert Storm conflict, where he performed critical triage and treatment to all injured military personnel brought it. Major Bass retired from the USAR and VHS in 2005. He was predeceased by his son, Thomas Andrew in 1970 and by his parents Cary Kerney Bass and Iona Belle (Coakley) Bass of Falmouth, VA, his maternal grandfather Samuel Coakley, his sister Sharon Kerney Gray of Florence, OR, and his brother Francis William Bass of Phoenix, AZ. He is survived by his partner Henry T. Ranson, Jr.,by the extended Ranson Clan in Dillwyn, VA, and by his sons James Kerney Bass of Sandy Hook, VA (wife - Carrie & granddaughters Rilie & Loren) and Jared Alan Bass of Richmond, VA., and his brother Winston Alan Bass of King George, VA (wife – Loretta Ann Mountjoy Bass) and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Virginia, Illinois, Colorado, California and Oregon. He was a member of the American Legion, and a life member of the MOAA, VFW, VVA, DAV, AAoNHC, 1st MarDiv, 3rd MarDiv, He was also a member of the Virginia Train Collectors, RF&P Railroad Historical Society, TCA, and other train-related organizations. For many years he sang Lead Voice with the Fredericksburg Barbershop Chorus (SPEBSQSA) when he enjoyed the weekly practice sessions, sing-outs and mid-atlantic competitions. When back home in Fredericksburg, he found a special joy visiting with relatives and high school friends, walking up and down Caroline Street and remembering how things used to be. He had time in later years to enjoy deer-hunting, fresh water fishing, camping and hiking. Visitation will be held at Woody's Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Rd., Midlothian, on Thursday, December 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral service will be held at Church of the Epiphany, 11000 Smoketree Dr., Richmond, on Friday, December 29, at 1 p.m.