Vance Bright

Melvin Vance Bright, 83, of 1389 Hwy 158 East, Sunbury, NC, passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 in his home where he was surrounded by his family. Mr. Bright was born in the Parksville community of Perquimans County on January 12, 1932 and was the son of the late Melvin Edmond and Lucy White Bright. A veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, his military career included four years in the United States Navy, and then over 16 years in the United States Coast Guard, retiring with the rank of Chief Gunner's Mate. Upon retiring from the military, his family moved to Sunbury where he worked as an ABC Officer and ABC Package Store operator for 22 years. Following his second retirement in 1994, it became unclear how he ever held a full-time job, for between gardening, woodworking (using scraps), handyman services, saw blade sharpening, and the occasional bird hunt, he always kept busy. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Eddie; a sister, Beverly; and a brother, Wayne. Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Mary Lee Miller Bright; a son, Glenn Bright and wife Heidi of Sunbury; a daughter-in-law, Teresa S. Bright of Hobbsville; two brothers, Calvin Bright and Moses Bright, both of Elizabeth City; five grandchildren, Cliff Bright and wife Jenny, Rob Bright and wife Kelly, Tiffany Long and husband Mike, Daniel Bright and wife Terah, and Wendy Bright and fiancé Jake Bunch; and by two great-granddaughters, Emma and Evie Bright. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main Street, Gatesville, by the Rev. Ron Stuart. Military honors will be accorded on the lawn of the funeral home. A private burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Elizabeth City. Friends may join the family Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home, and other times at the residence. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.