MELINDA LEA TERRY VANCE

Fort Worth, Texas - Melinda Terry Vance died peacefully Friday afternoon, December 29, surrounded by family members.  She was 84. 

Family and friends will gather from 5 to 7 pm Tuesday, January 9, in the Great Room at Robertson Mueller Harper.  A Funeral Service will be held at 1 pm Wednesday, January 10, in the Sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 1000 Penn Street, with The Rev. Dr. Michael Waschevski officiating.  A Reception will follow the service in the church’s Great Hall.  She will be laid to rest privately in Greenwood Memorial Park.

Born in Fort Worth, Melinda was the only child of Ernest and Esda Terry.  She led a remarkable life.  From the time she was eight until she turned fifteen, she ice-skated professionally and performed acrobatics on ice at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas.  She was a medal-winning gymnast and also a wonderful dancer, being one of the first dancers hired at Casa Mañana.  In 1957, Melinda graduated from R.L. Paschal High School, where classmate Estil Vance, Jr. asked her on a date.  She said no, but he persisted, ultimately becoming the love of her life.  They married in 1961 and remained happily together until his death in 2005.

Melinda was a trailblazer for women and a role model for her children and granddaughters.  She began college at UCLA, completing her undergraduate degree in history and political science at UT Austin.  From there, with the full support of her future husband, she became one of only three women admitted to UT Law School, subsequently graduating eighth in her class.  She practiced law in private practice before being appointed as a Municipal Judge by the Fort Worth City Council.  In addition to being a lawyer when few women were, Melinda had a passion and gift for running political campaigns.  She served as the Tarrant County Coordinator for the Democratic Party for Ann Richards, U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, Barefoot Sanders, and Governor Dolph Briscoe.  She also successfully ran her husband’s campaign for Fort Worth City Council, but win or lose, they had a blast just being together.

Melinda loved Fort Worth and contributed greatly to the community.  She was the Ethics Committee Chairperson of the City of Fort Worth.  Appointed to the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women by Governor Briscoe in 1980, she championed women’s rights.  In her work for the Easter Seal Society, she advocated for the disabled.  She was a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Quality Education and Demography, which conducted city-wide hearings to study declining enrollment, desegregation, and quality education in Fort Worth public schools.  This study ultimately resulted in $1.5 million being redirected predominantly to minority schools excluded from busing.  Melinda was a proud alumna of the Delta Delta Delta sorority.  She remained active throughout the years, including with the TCU chapter.  She received the Golden Circle degree for 50 years of service.  Melinda was also a member of the Assembly and the Junior League of Fort Worth.

On top of all her accomplishments and community service, Melinda was fiercely devoted to family and friends and put them before all else.  Although she was tough and spoke her mind, she would be the first to be there in a time of need.  She loved deeply, and she will be missed dearly by all those who loved her.

Her family would like to thank Dr. Allan Kelly, her long-time family physician, for the care he provided over the years.

She is survived by her son, Dr. Estil Vance III and his fiancé, Margaret Blackmon; her daughter, Kathleen Vance Galloway and her husband, Toby; and twin granddaughters, Rebecca and Alexandra.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, consideration of contributions to The WARM Place, 809 Lipscomb Street, 76104; First Presbyterian Church,1000 Penn Street, 76102; or, a charity of your choice, in her memory, is suggested.