Callaway Vance

    Callaway Sanford Vance, 93, died from complications of a brain tumor on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. He was born on June 8, 1920 in Edna to the late John T. Vance and Lillian Callaway Vance.
    After growing up on his family's backyard banks of Dry Creek and graduating from Edna High School, Callaway entered Plan II at the University of Texas at Austin where he was a member of Phi Eta Sigma honorary scholastic fraternity and Delta Theta Phi law fraternity. At the age of 21 he completed his law degree and passed his bar exam. During that time, Callaway cut in on a dancing couple at the UT Student Union Ballroom to claim his partner for life, his nurturing and compassionate wife Sue. With the advent of World War II he volunteered for the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School and was subsequently accepted into the Counter Intelligence Corps where he served until the end of the war. He then joined his father's law practice in Edna and continued an active practice, alongside complementary business pursuits, into his eighties. He once stated, "Our office was like the general store in a small town – you could get most anything you needed at one place. In addition to our general law practice we operated an abstract plant, a title insurance company, a casualty insurance agency and also made personal loans on land and automobiles."
    Callaway was a member of the Edna Presbyterian Church where he was a deacon and an elder. He was a member of the Texas State Bar Association and past president of the Jackson County Bar Association serving as chairman of the committee approving attorneys for Victoria District Federal Court. As an active Rotarian for over 65 years, he served as president, was honored as Rotarian of the Year, and received recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was elected for two terms to the Edna ISD Board of Trustees. In 1956 he was nominated a director of The Jackson County State Bank, holding that position for more than 30 years; upon its acquisition by Victoria Bankshares he was named a Community Director of Victoria Bank and Trust-Edna. He was a charter member and president of the Edna Country Club where he was a frequent golfer until the lure of his land intervened. In 1993 he was appointed by the Governor of Texas to the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority Board of Directors.
    Appreciated for his wisdom and known for his frugality, quick wit and sense of humor, Callaway was the epitome of the old-fashioned country lawyer and gentleman. An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting, fishing and the pursuit of ranching and agricultural interests. He spent hours in his greenhouse making his yard a tropical paradise, and plants he nurtured continue to flourish in the yards of his children and grandchildren. Most of his life he began and ended each day improving and enjoying his country properties. In retirement nothing pleased him more than loading his dog in the truck, alongside his fishing pole and shotgun, and heading to the country to watch the sunrise and engage with the resident alligators. Until her death in 2004 his devoted wife of 62 years, Sue, lovingly accompanied him on his evening sunset trips. As there were seldom enough hours in the day to read his political, business and financial periodicals, communication with family members was frequently conducted from behind The Wall Street Journal.
    He is survived by three daughters, Susan Williford and former husband John Williford of Houston, Becky Vance and her husband Cletus Lee of Houston, and Nancy Aimone and her husband Roy of Victoria; grandchildren Rebecca Kelly, Rachael Shannon, Robin Shannon, Chess Lee, Callaway Aimone and his wife Kelly, and John Aimone and his fiancé Ashley Welder; and great-grandchildren Nolan, Peyton and Calvin Kelly, all who affectionately knew him as "Gramps".     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sue B. Vance, his brother, John T. Vance II, and sisters Mildred Schade and Marie Zipp.
    A memorial service will be held on Friday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. at Edna Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Kris Crawford officiating.
    Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of South Texas, 605 East Locust, Victoria, Texas 77901 or Edna Presbyterian Church, 502 Apollo, Edna, Texas 77957.
    Arrangements are under the direction of Oaklawn Funeral Home, Edna, 361-782-2221.