Lance King Vandivort, age 79, of Rowlett, Texas, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 14, 2026. He leaves behind a legacy deeply rooted in faith, family, redemption and service to his community.

Early Life and Education

Born on August 9, 1947, in Dallas, Texas, Lance was the eldest of three sons to David Harold and Esther Irvine (Van Camp) Vandivort. Surviving childhood polio at age four left Lance with physical challenges, but his unmistakable determination and perseverance were evident for all to see throughout his life.

Lance was a lifelong resident and dedicated servant of the Dallas area. A 1965 graduate of Bryan Adams High School, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Southern Methodist University in 1969. His sharp writing, eloquent speech, and unyielding intellectual curiosity remained pillars of his personality throughout his life -- even leading him to take on the unique challenge of learning German in college purely for the mental exercise.

A Life of Dedication and Advocacy

Lance’s career spanned both public and private sectors, including roles as a distributor for the Dallas Morning News, a small-business owner of R&S Distributors, and a Nordstrom associate. His longest professional chapter was spent with the United States Postal Service. Alongside his father and uncles, Lance was a dedicated and active leader in the Dallas Postal Workers Union throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Stepping into the shoes of his retired father, Lance served as Chief Steward and was a skilled arbitrator. He spent years fervently representing, mediating, and defending the safety, fair treatment, accountability and rights of everyday workers with remarkable dedication and integrity.

Passions, Sports, and Faith

Basketball was a lifelong passion for Lance. As a child, he and his brothers would fall asleep listening to Bob Pettit games on a low-volume radio hidden in their room to avoid getting in trouble. He grew up traveling the country with his father, uncles, and brothers to catch their next "Doc Hayes Mustang fix" supporting SMU basketball. Despite the physical limitations of post-polio syndrome, Lance played and coached for many years, retaining an encyclopedic knowledge of the sport. A post-game call to Lance always meant a enjoyable, in-depth discussion about the game with one of his beloved brothers or friends.

Above all else was Lance’s deep love and devotion to Jesus Christ. He knew firsthand the power of Christ’s redemption and spent his life passionately building relationships and sharing the Gospel. For more than 20 years, Lance served faithfully as an active teacher and leader across various ministries, Sunday school classes, and faith-based groups at Lake Highlands Baptist Church and Lake Pointe Church. During his journey, he also found immense healing and community through Celebrate Recovery, a ministry he deeply cherished. Most recently, in his final years, Lance found a welcoming church home as a member of First Baptist Church in Rockwall.

Triumph Through Adversity

Lance faced substantial physical and emotional setbacks during his life including Polio as a toddler, being struck by an automobile as a young child, a ruptured appendix as a young man, addiction, deep personal hurts, and later in life cardiac disease, Post-Polio Syndrome, kidney cancer, and Parkinson's disease. Yet, much like King David in Psalm chapter 13, one of his favorite passages, Lance’s journey through adversity always transformed into an unwavering hope in Christ.

Lance beautifully penned his perspective on his suffering:

"How can I know what faith is worth without being tested? How can I truly know my Savior without being challenged beyond my own capacity? Today, as difficult as this last year has been, I can count it all joy in saying, WHY NOT ME? To be tested in the name of Jesus and to know firsthand the fellowship of His suffering and to become perfect (mature) and complete in Him is not easy. Why me? WITH JOY TODAY I SAY, WHY NOT ME?”

Family and Survivors

Lance had a pround love for his family. He is survived by his devoted wife of over thirty years, Nancy Vandivort of Rowlett; his children, Dana Perkins and her husband Jeremy of Waxahachie, and Eric Vandivort and his wife Billie of Kenosha, Wisconsin; his stepchildren, Jason King and his wife Amanda, and Steven King and his wife Deanna.

He leaves behind a legacy of love for his granddaughters: Emma, Audrey, McKinzey, Amber, and Isabelle Vandivort, and Jocilyn, Isabelle, and Caroline King. He is also survived by his deeply loved brothers, Randy Lee Vandivort and his wife Toni, and Terry David Vandivort. He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Esther Vandivort.

Through his own journey of grace, he would want those who remain to hear and know: "It’s never too late to heal, but don’t wait too long to decide."

Today, free from struggle and resting in the arms of his Savior, Lance can finally say with joy, "I'm glad it was me."

Service Details

A celebration of Lance’s life and faith will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Chapel at First Baptist Church Rockwall (located at 610 S Goliad St, Rockwall, TX 75087). All supporters, friends, and family are warmly welcome to attend and celebrate the profound impact of his life.