Vance Moore Eaddy's Obituary
Vance Moore Eaddy, 75, of St Petersburg, Florida, passed away with his family by his side on July 31, 2023, at Bayfront Hospital. He never regained consciousness after suffering a brain injury during his weekly bicycle ride on the Pinellas Trail on Sunday morning before church. He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 52 years; Jason and Jenny, his son and daughter-in-law; and his two grandsons, Jack and Joey.
Vance was born on February 1, 1948, in Tampa, Florida. As a child, he moved to Cocoa Beach with his parents, Wilbur and Jean, and younger brother, Bruce. His younger years were spent with his extended family in Bushnell or at home in Cocoa, a child of the space race. In high school, he ran track and was on the Cocoa High School football team his senior year. He attended Brevard Community College and transferred to Florida State University, where he graduated with a degree in Criminology in 1970.
Vance married his college sweetheart, Nancy, at Pasadena Community Church in 1971. Jason, their beloved son, was born in 1976. Vance loved being a father, watching Jason grow up, and sharing his love of knowledge and learning with his son. He was blessed with two grandsons and a wonderful daughter-in-law. He looked forward to his visits to Boston and spending time with his family.
Vance dedicated his life to service. He was very active in Boy Scouts, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and worked as a camp counselor at Camp La-No-Che. Vance was also a lifeguard on Cocoa Beach, saving at least two lives. After college, he started his career as a campus police officer at FSU. In 1971 he moved to Mississippi to become a special agent with the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, transferring to Washington, DC in 1975. Subsequently, Vance joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working in Nashville, Maryland, Orlando, and finally, St Petersburg. He retired in 2003 after 28 years. Although Vance had a relatively early federal retirement, he soon became busy working with Nancy, helping her brother with his dock-building business for several years.
His dedication to service continued through Pasadena Community Church. He was a member of the Monday Morning Men’s Workshop and the 7:01 AM Club; he participated in building wheelchair ramps for the community and volunteered in church hospitality for multiple functions and outreach. He also served on the church’s Board of Trustees for many years.
Vance was a lifelong athlete, excelling at swimming, triathlons, and in particular, cycling. Although he wouldn’t say he excelled at golf, he did love to play. His sports took him all over the country and even to Munich, Germany. He was a dedicated cyclist logging over 48,000 miles throughout the years. He did many long-distance rides, including rides across Indiana, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
Vance truly had a life well lived, but he will be deeply missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Pasadena Community Church on August 19 from 1-2:00 PM, followed by a time of fellowship and refreshments.
What’s your fondest memory of Vance?
What’s a lesson you learned from Vance?
Share a story where Vance's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Vance you’ll never forget.
How did Vance make you smile?