Rance grew up on his family’s farm in the Cedar Creek community of southern Greene County. He served in the Navy during World War II, assigned to a Landing Craft Infantry ship (LCI-696) in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, from 1944 to 1946. He was a professional baseball player from 1947 to 1960, and made it to the majors in 1956 with the Kansas City Athletics. He was a baseball scout for the Atlanta Braves for 25 years and worked at The Magnavox Company as security captain when it didn’t interfere with baseball or farming, from 1947 to 1987.
Rance is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Lucille Pless; a son and daughter-in-law: Randy and Kathy Pless; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends, and neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Garfield and Sally Kate (Waddle) Pless.
Lucille, Randy, and Kathy send a heartfelt thank you to the employees and volunteers of Laughlin Healthcare Center and Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice. A special tip of the baseball cap to Carla Nickle, Ken Nickle, and Craig Rhyne.
The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home in Greeneville.
The funeral service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Melinda Sturm officiating.
Interment will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday in GreeneLawn Memory Gardens. The Greene County Honor Guard and the U.S. Navy Military Honors Team will conduct a military graveside service. Family and friends are asked to meet at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home to go in procession to the cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Kenneth DeWitt, Terry Rader, Ronnie Wilhoit, Eugene Broyles, Jerry Hoyle, and Randy Pless.
Memorial donations may be made to: River Hill United Methodist Church, c/o Wayne Phillips, 145 Rolling Hills Road, Greeneville, TN 37743.
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