Rene Vance was born into a military family. She enlisted in the USAF in 1978, during which time women were just entering into new non-traditional jobs. As an Aerospace Ground Equipment Mechanic, her training ranged from jet engines, hydraulics, electronics, and more. After several assignments, she requested and served as a technical instructor for three and a half years. Immediately transitioning from active duty, she served a year in the USAF reserves and medically retired from the Florida Air National Guard in 1992 after serving almost 18 years. Her diversified civilian portfolio ranges from fast food employee, long-distance telephone operator, bookkeeper, maintenance supervisor at a lumber yard, farmhand, school bus driver, substitute teacher, correctional officer, retail sales, and store management. She moved from Florida to Sedalia in 2016. She is a board member of the Sedalia Senior Center, a PAR driver, a volunteer driver for meals to homebound seniors, and the Silver Hair Representative for Pettis County. Her son Brian is currently serving in the Navy in Florida and her daughter Krystal and two grandsons are in Tennessee.
