Rev. Ernest Leo Chance, 96; former Great Plains Conference pastor. Born August 20, 1926; died February 2, 2023.
He married Ruth Alberta Clendenen in 1946. He received a master of divinity degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1954 and served four Nazarene churches in Ohio. He served as a chaplain for the Ohio National Guard and eventually transferred his chaplaincy from Ohio to Kansas. In 1968, the Kansas National Guard was activated and deployed to Viet Nam. During his time in the Army, he was also deployed to Korea and Germany along with his stateside postings. He continued to serve as a chaplain until his retirement in 1986 as a lieutenant colonel.
Chance served churches in the former Kansas East Conference, including Monticello, Kansas City New Hope, South Park and Kansas City Bristol Hill before his retirement in 1986.
His wife preceded him in death.
Survivors include his children, Diane Tolin (Larry), Donna Zimmer (Ken), and Robert “Bob” Chance (Melanie); seven grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life service will be scheduled at a later date.
