Donald Franklin Nance

Donald Franklin Nance, age 88, of 320 Gardiner Rd., Asheboro died Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at Randolph Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:00 am at the Pugh Funeral Home Chapel, 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro with Rev. Michael Holder and Rev. Susan Mitchell officiating and with military honors by the Randolph County Honor Guard. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends following the funeral service and at other times at the home of Sue and Mark King, 915 Trollinger Rd., Asheboro. Mr. Nance was born in Thomasville, NC on July 19, 1923 to Frank and Mae Varner Nance. He was a graduate of Fairgrove High School in Thomasville and attended High Point College. Don was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII, serving in the European Theater. He was retired from Acme-McCrary Corporation. Don played both baseball and basketball with the McCrary Eagles. He was an umpire and referee for over 30 years and Nance Ballfield at Memorial Park was named after him. Don was a member of First United Methodist Church and a member of the Jr. Wesley Sunday School class. In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by his daughter Kathy Garner and his brother Hilliard Nance. Don loved gardening and giving his crop of tomatoes to friends and family. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Ruth Brady Nance; daughters, Donna Nance of the home, Rosemary Nance Hunt of Asheboro, NC, Sue King and her husband Mark of Asheboro, NC; 6 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren. The family would like to express a special thanks to the nurses and staff on the 3rd floor at Randolph Hospital for the wonderful care given to Don. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 224 North Fayetteville Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 or Hospice of Randolph, P.O. Box 9, Asheboro, NC 27204-0009.