Rod Vance

The services celebrating and honoring the life of Rod Vance, 70, of Enid will be held 1:00 P.M. Tuesday January 28, 2025, in the Brown-Cummings chapel with Pastor Tony Tolle officiating. Burial will follow at Del Norte Cemetery in Drummond.  A visitation will be held 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Monday January 27, 2025 in the Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. Services are under the direction of Brown-Cummings, A life celebration home. His service will be live streamed for those who cannot attend via Brown-Cummings Funeral Home Facebook.

Rod was born February 24, 1953, to Master Chief Petty Officer John “Jack” Knoll and Nadean Pilkington in Washington, DC and passed from this life on January 23, 2025 surrounded by his family in Enid, Oklahoma

He was adopted by his grandparents Clint and Lillie Vance. He was raised in Ames, Oklahoma and graduated from Pioneer High School with the class of 1971. Just out of high school, he worked as a mechanic at the City of Enid. He joined the military and was honorably discharged. He then attended Indian Meridian Technology School in Stillwater where he received his Refrigeration Tech License. He worked for many years as an Independent Contractor and an employee for the Enid News and Eagle as the Mailroom Production Supervisor until he was forced to retire from a major stroke in 2022. He enjoyed watching Star Trek and Gunsmoke, tinkering with all electronics, especially building Ham radios, working in their garden, planting trees and tending to his roosters in his spare time and he was an avid OU football fan.

He is survived by his wife Ronna Vance of the home, two daughters, Rhonda Vance-Pike and Machell Wilson, one sister Jacquenette “Jackie” Knoll-Mitchler. He has nine grandchildren, Shaelee Sissom, Reanna McPhail and husband Hayden, Ryan Matthew Sissom, Madison O’Brien, Taylor O’Brien, Hudson Pike, Brandon Parmley, Devin Parmley and wife Kaysi, Jami Hubbs and husband Matthew. He also has twelve great grandchildren, Ava Sissom, Elias Sissom, Blayne Parmley, Kaylor Parmley, Bryleigh Parmley, Harlie Parmley, Blayze Parmley, Cooper Parmley, Payton Wilson, Kasin Parmley, Kelsi Campbell and Kayleigh Grimm. He is also survived by many close friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, one sister, Cheryl “Cher” Knoll Jarosz-Leone, one daughter, Tricia Williams and one great grandson, Bradon Parmley.

Rod was given the nickname of “Einstein” by many of his friends and family because he was incredibly intelligent. He was filled with funny jokes, always helping anyone in need and had a charismatic personality. He touched the lives of many people and will be truly missed.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in his honor to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital with Brown-Cummings serving as custodian of the funds.

Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family online at WWW.BrownCummings.com.