Vance Burton Finch

VANCE BURTON FINCH, 87, of North Little Rock died Saturday, May 3, 2014. He was born in Furlow Township, Lonoke County to Bead and Jewell Finch. He was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Jennie Rowley Finch; his parents; brothers, Bennie Finch and Pat Finch; and sisters, Ruth Martineau and Posey Finch. He is survived by a brother, Ellis Finch of Furlow and a sister, Anna Woody of Little Rock. He also leaves his children, Tina Gill (Steve) Trimble of North Little Rock, Rick (Karen) Finch of Bastrop, Texas, and Bernie (Vicki) Finch of North Little Rock; grandchildren, Joe Gill of New Providence, N.J., Samantha Finch of Bastrop, Texas, and Jennie and Matthew Finch of North Little Rock; three great-grandchildren; and a host of family, friends, and a very special friend, Charlotte Murry. Burt was born Oct. 23, 1926. He served his country during World War II on numerous islands in the Pacific as well as on Japan as part of the occupation force after the war. He was proud to have served in the U.S. Army Infantry and was a member of the Arkansas National Guard. He returned to the United States, married the girl of his dreams and attended college on the G.I. Bill. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas College of Engineering in Fayetteville. He considered himself very fortunate to be given a chance to succeed. He built a career as a civil engineer with the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service for 35 years serving in Wynne, DeWitt, Paris, Pine Bluff, Walnut Ridge and Little Rock. He played the piano, the guitar, the banjo, excelled with the harmonica and sang second tenor with his three brothers in a gospel quartet. Burt was a lifelong Methodist and a member of Lakewood United Methodist Church for 41 years. A true gentleman and a good Samaritan who helped anyone he could who was down on their luck, Burt was always for the underdog. He was proud to be an Arkansan and was a great fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Burt touched the lives of family, friends as well as strangers with a gentle voice and a soothing countenance. He possessed an impeccable character and was modest by nature. He was truly a renaissance man. Visitation will be Monday, May 5 6-8 p.m. at Arkansas Funeral Care, 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Ark. 72076. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 6 at 9:30 a.m. at Lakewood United Methodist Church, Fairway Avenue and Topf Road, North Little Rock, Ark. 72116, with private burial at Concord Cemetery. www.arkansasfuneralcare.com.