Velma J. Vance

Velma J. Vance, 96, passed away Thursday, June 19th, 2025 following a courageous fight with cancer. Velma was born May 13, 1929, in Wilder, Idaho, the daughter of James and Harriet Karn Vance. She graduated from Wilder High School and received her Bachelor of Science from the College of Idaho, a Master of Science from University of Arizona, and her Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of California, L.A. Velma taught at Cal State Los Angeles from 1956 until she retired in 1991. She enjoyed her teaching career and developed friendships that lasted her lifetime.

After her retirement, Velma returned “home” to Idaho and spent countless hours volunteering at the Boise Zoo, where she shared her knowledge, inspiring multiple generations to share her passion for wildlife. She was instrumental in the development and successful completion of several exhibit enhancements and supported numerous zoo renovations. 

Velma also had a passion for travel and enjoyed many trips all over the globe with beloved nieces, nephews and friends. Many trips involved bird watching, and Velma faithfully journaled the different species she encountered. She was seldom seen without her trusty binoculars to identify the various birds and mammals she discovered.

Finally, Velma had a passion for good food and good wine and used her travels to explore different wine regions and new cuisines.  She loved sharing the fun of cooking with family and friends and was hosting dinner parties in her home just weeks before she lost her battle with cancer.  

Velma spent her summers at her cabin in the Idaho mountains where she could enjoy all her favorite things. Countless lizards were caught each summer and would serve as the “pet” for her grand-nieces and nephews to enjoy during their visits, including “bathtub catch lessons” on how to catch them without hurting them.  Many people were introduced to Velma because they were taken by family to spend a weekend with her at her cabin, cooking gourmet meals on an open fire or a pizza in her stone wood-fired pizza oven and sipping a nice wine by the evening campfire. She was very loved and will be truly missed by many.

Velma is survived by her brother George Vance and wife Caroline of Wilder and numerous nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews, who all knew beloved Aunt Velma. She was preceded in death by both parents, her sisters Katherine Vance, Eleanor Jones, and Sylvia Libby, and her brother Loal Vance.