Vann was born on December 17, 1912, second son of four children to George James Nealeans, Sr. and Sidney Simmons Nealeans, of Birmingham, Alabama. He spent his early years of education in Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina attending North Carolina State University in 1932 and 1933. Employed in 1934 by the North Carolina Theatres, Inc. and assigned in 1936 to the National Theatre in Greensboro as the Assistant Manager followed by theatre manager positions in Burlington and Wilmington NC as well as Bluefield, West Virginia.
In 1941 he returned to Birmingham and was employed by Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, today known as PPG Industries, Inc. His career with PPG included sales and management positions with the Merchandizing Division in Birmingham, Ala., Branch Manager in Florence, Alabama and Roanoke, Virginia. In 1962 he joined the Coatings Division of PPG Industries and until his retirement in 1978 ( 37 years of service ) as the Area Sales Manager overseeing 15 paint centers and their sales force in Virginia, North and South Carolina.
Vann was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of High Point, NC since 1957, and served as a Sunday school teacher, Deacon, Elder, and served on many church committees, including Moderator of the Administrative and the Endowment Committees. He was very active in the High Point Community and serviced on the High Point Citizens Advisory Committee, the High Point Salvation Army Advisory Board, and the High Point Housing Authority, including serving as Chairman of the Authority for several years. For 16 years Vann was an active member in the “ Service Corp of Retired Executives “ ( SCORE ), where he thoroughly enjoyed working and helping other entrepreneurs develop their businesses. He was a member of High Point Country Club and a member of the “Super Seniors Golf Group” which he enjoyed with many of his friends.
During his assignment with PPG Industries in Roanoke, Virginia he served as a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board as well as a member of the Sales Executive Board and was on the Board of Directors of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of the Hidden Valley Country Club.
Vann was a WWII Veteran serving in the European Theater from June 1943 thru November 1945 with the 373rd Army Engineers, as a Sgt. Major, 2nd BN and was honorably discharged in 1945 returning to Birmingham, Alabama.
In August 1940 he married his beloved Elizabeth Benton in the Duke Chapel in Durham, North Carolina. In time he learned he had married into a wonderful family of five sons and five daughters of Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Benton, Sr. of Garland, North Carolina. Through the years Elizabeth and Vann had their Annual Thanksgiving Benton Family Reunion at their home on Kingston Drive in Emerywood Forest often with 80 to 120 family members attending. Vann and Elizabeth spent many happy years living in High Point where Elizabeth was the first Director of the High Point Friends Meeting Kindergarten for 17 years and where they raised two fine sons, Alan and Drew.
Surviving includes one loving sister, Helen N. Crow of Raleigh, NC, and two sons, Dr. Alan V. Nealeans and his wife, Karen of Lewisville, NC and Drew B. Nealeans of High Point, NC, two grandchildren, Maggie M. Tomlinson and her husband John and their two children, Ava Jane and Reynolds of Waxhaw, North Carolina and Courtney V. Nealeans and his wife Mandy and their son Carson of Clemmons, North Carolina as well as many in-laws and over 100 nieces and nephews.
Vann and Elizabeth moved to the Presbyterian Home in September, 1988 and Elizabeth died on December 27, 1992. Vann moved to River Landing at Sandy Ridge and was one of the first residents to move in during early 2002.
The family would like to take this opportunity to thank all of Vann’s many caring and loving friends he has had over the many years at Presbyterian Home and River Landing at Sandy Ridge. Special thanks to all his care givers, including all the many, many wonderful nurses and CNA’s at River Landing. Special appreciation to CNA’s Tammy, Gloria and Amber for all their passionate care, friendship and laughter they shared with our father. A special thanks also to his “Stephen Ministry” friend from First Presbyterian Church, a dear friend, Bill Poe.
There will be a memorial service for the family and friends at 2:00 PM, Thursday, November 21st. in First Presbyterian Church, 918 N. Main Street, High Point, NC, by the Rev Dr. Kenneth Browman-Fulks and Rev. Dr. Erin Bowers.
The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, November 20th from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM in the multi-purpose room at River Landing at Sandy Ridge, 1575 Johns Knox Drive, Colfax, NC. There will be a private burial at Floral Garden Park prior to the memorial service. Mr. Nealeans will remain at Sechrest Funeral Service in High Point until Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
Memorials may be directed to: First Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 918 N. Main Street, High Point, N.C. 27260 and River Landing at Sandy Ridge Annual Appeal Fund, 1575 John Knox Drive, Colfax, N.C. 27235-9666.
Sechrest Funeral Service at 1301 E. Lexington Ave., is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.sechrestfunerals.com
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