Bob Chance, 86, of Denair passed away at Brandel Manor in Turlock on Tuesday. He was born in Juneau, AK to Pearl Phoebe (Swanson) and Oliver W. Chance in 1924. Shortly thereafter, the Chance family moved to Denair. Bob grew up and spent his entire life in Denair. He attended Denair Grammar and High School. He graduated from Denair High School in 1942. Bob joined the U. S. Navy on June 26, 1943 during WWII and served as an Aviation Machinists Mate Second Class.  He was a Plane Captain and fondly remembered his days of hauling bootleg liquor from Cuba to North Carolina for the officers he worked with. After being discharged from the Navy in 1946, he enrolled at California Polytechnic College and earned a bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry. After graduating college, Bob moved back to Denair and spent most of his life as a professional welder, rancher and heavy equipment operator in the Central Valley and parts of the Sierra Nevada. He was a lifetime member of the Denair Lions Club, and a former president. He also was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Bob is survived by his brother, James Chance and family of Ballico.  Bob’s family was all of his friends in the Denair area. When it came to friends, he was a very wealthy man. He had lots of friends and did a lot of volunteer work for the Denair community his entire life. He was very active in the community and worked many hours of his life in direct support of the people of Denair. Bob was the type of man that would give you the shirt off his back. He did not care about material things, but he did care a lot about people. Bob will be missed by many and never forgotten.

A viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 6 at Allen Mortuary. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at Denair Cemetery. He was not known for his gardening abilities, so in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Denair Lions Club, P.O. Box 32, Denair, CA 95316 or Hospice of Emanuel, P.O. Box 819005, Turlock, CA 95381.

Please share your memories at www.allenmortuary.com.