Mr. Curtis Arthur Farrance, age 70, a resident of 133 Beach Road, Chocowinity, died peacefully Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at his home following a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

A funeral service will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at Paul Funeral Home and Crematory of Washington, officiated by Derik Davis. Burial will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

Mr. Farrance was born in McGrath, Alaska, on Sept. 14, 1941, son of Arthur Swaine Farrance and Clovis Lena Chaffee. Mr. Farrance served his country in the United States Navy as a Medic during the Vietnam War and earned the Bronze Star for Valor. The citation reads, in part, “…He treated at least fifteen hundred patients each month… on several occasions he worked through the night to handle mass casualties… In one Viet Cong terrorist incident where six people were killed and thirty-five wounded he treated and evacuated the most seriously wounded.” He received his bachelor’s degree in Nursing Magna Cum Laude from Old Dominion University, where he was the top graduate in his class, and was cited by the University Alumni Association for “graduating with the greatest distinction in scholarship,” and was inducted into the Delta Phi Omega honor society. He later received his Master of Science in Nursing Magna Cum Laude from the University of Washington. In 1994, Mr. Farrance moved to Beaufort County, along with his wife Kathy Vasquez and they were married on Aug. 24, 1996. Mr. Farrance had a long career in nursing service, administration, and teaching, working as the Assistant Hospital Director at Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh, and serving on the faculty of East Carolina University in Greenville, for a number of years. Mr. Farrance was also a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. He provided community service as a Charter member of Civitan on the Pamlico, and involvement with the Blind Center in Washington. He also enjoyed custom woodworking in his spare time, creating many beautiful pieces now owned by very special people.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Farrance is survived by a son: Stephen Ritter and his wife Tracy of Mechanicsburg, Pa., and his children, Jaster, Christopher, Sydney, and Wesley. Mr. Farrance was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Amy, brother Rex and two sisters.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Beaufort County Blind Center, 219 N. Harvey St., Washington, NC 27889, Literacy Volunteers of Beaufort County, 1385 John Small Ave., Washington, NC 27889 or Eagle’s Wings, 932 E. Third St., Washington, NC 27889.

The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday, at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington.

Condolences may be offered to the Farrance family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Farrance family.