Joseph Cullen Vance III; known to his family and friends as “Buzz”, passed away just after his 73rd birthday. Buzz was raised in Lipscomb, Alabama by his parents, J.C. Vance, Jr. and Jean Wyatt Vance, where he attended Jones Valley High School. He is an alum of the University of Alabama, where he earned his bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation from U.of A., he landed at Southern Company Services in Birmingham where he earned his certification as a Professional Engineer, and met his wife, Sandra “Sandy” Lees Vance. Buzz was a devoted husband to his wife of 42 years, and a strong role model to his 3 daughters, Christina “Tina”, Ryan, and Erin. Buzz retired from Southern Company 42 years later.

In 2012, he began his struggle with Alzheimer’s. He was a charitable human; giving 8 years of service to the Alabama Army National Guard as a helicopter mechanic, decades to the MathCounts program for children; where he won the President’s Award for his dedication and contributions, numerous school and church programs, and years as Head Coach for his daughters’ softball leagues. He was a loyal Tide Pride member with a passion for the Alabama Crimson Tide; Roll Tide! He lived a full life, wasn’t afraid to have a good time, he loved to sing and dance, he loved to teach and coach; he was a mentor to some and a friend to many. He believed in respecting others and doing the right thing. He believed that men should be men and taught his girls to play hard ball too. He will be remembered as an honorable, intelligent, respectable, hardworking man that could build just about anything and had a joke for everything.

Buzz was preceded in death by his beloved parents, and is survived by his wife, Sandy, their 3 daughters and son’s in law, Christina and Charlie Rogers, Ryan and Eddy Horton, Erin and Brad Meacham, 4 grandsons (Biggs, Hunter, Sam, Finn) and 3 granddaughters (Sofia, Cheyenne, Dana), his younger brother Robert Steven “Steve” Vance, and a host of nieces and nephews. Buzz’s wish was to be cremated and have his ashes spread over his favorite place.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 2, 2019 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Birmingham. Visitation to begin at 10am followed by a memorial service at 11am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be sent to any of Buzz’s favorite charities in his honor: MathCounts Foundation at mathcounts.org, at heart.org, at act.ALZ.org

The family would like to send a special Thank You to Plantation Manor and Alabama Hospice Care for the special care and comfort given to Buzz during his last few weeks.