Janet (Snell) Vance

Janet Snell Vance, 89, of Wilmington, Ohio passed away Monday, June 22, 2026 at Ohio Living Cape May.  Her husband, William “Bill” Cadwallader Vance, preceded her in death March 28, 2023.  They were married August 14, 1955.  She was born November 4, 1936 in Monterey, Ohio, daughter of the late Howard D. Snell and Wilma Thompson Snell.  She was a 1955 graduate of Martinsville High School.

For many years, Mrs. Vance worked side by side with her husband on the family farm.  She was a faithful member of the Wilmington Church of Christ on Locust Street where she had served as Sunday school superintendent, custodian, and mentor.  She also sang in the choir and coordinated the funeral meal ministry.  Janet and her husband enjoyed hosting missionaries and events such as hayrides, campfires, wiener roasts, and family holidays at their home.  She also loved gardening and traveling with her husband to Florida.

Mrs. Vance is survived by four sons, Hugh (JoEllen) Vance of Wilmington, Ohio, Ron Vance of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jon (Cheryl) Vance of McCordsville, Indiana, and Ray (Patty) Vance of Colorado Springs, Colorado; a daughter, Amy (John) Luttrell of Wilmington, Ohio; 12 grandchildren, Molly (Hamish) Taylor, Hayley (Matt) Humberstone, Will (Meg) Vance, Neil Vance, Lianne (Todd) Pierce, Justin (Traci) Vance, Kara Vance, Amber (Scott) Angles, Jacob (Nicole) Vance, Jared (Rachel) Luttrell, Kelsey Luttrell, and Levi Luttrell; 18 great-grandchildren, Liam Taylor, Dillon Taylor, Riley Taylor, Milli Humberstone, John Hugh Humberstone, Timothy Vance, Wesley Vance, Ellie Vance,   Marjorie Pierce, Elizabeth Pierce, Addison Vance, Jase Vance, Gabriel Vance, Josephine Angles, Adeline Angles, Jack Luttrell, Emilia Luttrell, and Henry Luttrell; a sister-in-law, Nanetta (Jim) Bradley of Wilmington, Ohio; and brothers-in-law, Bill Blake of Richmond, Virginia and David C. Vance of Wilmington, Ohio.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a sister Miriam Blake; and a brother and sister-in-law, Dale and Barbara Snell.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at the Wilmington Church of Christ, 909 W. Locust Street, Wilmington, Ohio.  A celebration of Janet’s life will follow at 6:00 PM, Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Janet’s memory may be made to the Wilmington Church of Christ, 909 W. Locust Street, Wilmington, Ohio 45177 or Ohio Living Village Home Health and Hospice, 1701 Llanfair Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224.

Smith Funeral Home is serving the family.  For more information or to leave a note of condolence visit www.smithandsonfuneralhomes.com.

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