Vance Grady Stepp, 89

Vance Grady Stepp, 89, of East Flat Rock, NC went home to be with the Lord on November 26, 2014. He was born in Henderson County. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Jacob Stepp and Safronia Kent Stepp, his siblings, Ruby Ingham, Lillian Schneble, and brothers Clarence Stepp, Rickman Stepp, and Donald Stepp.

Grady served in the Air Force in World War II as a gunner in a B-29. Following the war he worked in commercial construction, and later retired from Carolina Village after 31 years of employment. Grady served as a Sunday school teacher and deacon at Grace Baptist Church. He then helped establish Bethany Baptist Church and served as a deacon.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Helen Redmond Stepp, and daughter Gayle Stepp Merrell, of Hendersonville and his sister Pauline Kuykendall, of Danville, VA. He is also survived by his grandsons, Stephen Merrell DMD and wife Shalini Maharaj OD, Joshua Merrell DDS and wife Betsy Merrell MD, David Merrell DMD and wife Jill Merrell DMD, and Matthew Merrell MD, as well as several nieces and nephews and great grandchildren.

Visitation services will be held at Jackson's Funeral Home on Friday, November 28, 2014 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at Jackson's Funeral Home on Saturday November 29 at 3:00 pm. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery following the funeral service with military honors.