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Bernard "Bernie" Edmund Vance

· 3 min read
Urania Lodge 311
Web Master

Bernard "Bernie" Edmund Vance​

December 24, 1937 - November 18, 2025

Christmas Eve, 1937, in the hotel on Railroad Street in Plain City, George Washington Vance and Nellie Clonch Vance welcomed the 7th of their 8 children. BERNARD EDMUND (INGMIRE) VANCE was named after the village doctor who came to the apartment to deliver him. (Nellie wanted the Ingmire in the name but there was not enough room on the line of the birth certificate to write it in!)

Bernie Vance

Bernie grew up with brothers George (Junior), Phillip (Bill), Charles (Charlie) and Ray (Raywessel) and sister, Nancy. Robert and Bessie both died in childhood, one day apart in 1935.

After graduating from Plain City High School in 1955, Bernie went on his first ocean cruise. He ended up in Korea with the U.S. Army. After serving his country, he returned home to work in grocery stores until he became of age to enter the Columbus Police Academy. He served 25 years in law enforcement doing patrol, burglary and robbery investigations, homicide investigations, and community relations. After serving with the CPD he began working 15 years of Service for the State of Ohio as a fraud investigator for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Listening to stories of his 40 years in law enforcement was a favorite of his friends and family.

Retiring in 2002, Bernie returned to his true loves — fishing, woodworking, fishing, community service work, fishing, working with Veterans' groups and fishing! He served in leadership roles locally with the Plain City Historical Society, Union County Veterans Service Commission, Friends of the Plain City Public Library and held offices in both VFW 3268 and American Legion 248.

He was active in the Urania Lodge #311, 32 Scottish Rite Mason, recipient of the Meritorious Service Award, member of Aladdin Shrine, a Kentucky Colonel, a member of The York Rite, Marysville Moose Lodge #1615 and Marysville VFW.

Bernie's life and escapades will live on through his children, Michelle (Bean), Sharon (Gert), Michael (Poncho) and George (Scooter). He also leaves 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, wife of 25 years, Karen Kile (Mumsie) and an entire family with nicknames!!

The program at Hospice of Central Ohio cannot be praised enough for their care and concern for Bernie's and Karen's welfare during these past weeks. Memorial donations, if desired, can be made to:

Hospice of Central Ohio https://www.ohioshospice.org/give/;

Plain City Historical Society https://www.plaincityhistoricalsociety.org/index.php/contact;

Plain City Public Library https://www.plaincitylib.org/information/#getinvolved; or any charity of your choosing.

A visitation will be held 10 AM-12 PM on Monday, November 24, 2025 at Ferguson Funeral Home in Plain City where the funeral service will be held at 12 PM. Burial with full military honors immediately following at Forest Grove Cemetery, Plain City.