Lance Burton Neighbors

Lance Burton Neighbors, son of proud parents H. Russell Neighbors, Jr. and Patricia (Patty) Rumfelt Neighbors and brother of H. Russell Neighbors III passed onto our God's heaven in the early morning hours of January 20, 2021 at Memorial Mission Hospital after a short illness resulting from medical misdiagnosis.

Lance was a saved young man having made his decision after listening week in and week out to the preaching of friend and pastor Steve Durham who baptized him.  Lance was predeceased in death by his paternal grandparents, Harry R. (Bill) And Peggy Padgette Neighbors; his maternal grandmother, Shirley Haynes Rumfelt; and first cousin and good friend, Cayden Wayne Rumfelt.

Surviving Lance are his heartbroken parents, Russell and Patty Neighbors; big brother, Russell Neighbors III; grandfather, Wayne B. Rumfelt; uncle and aunt, Gary W. and Angela T. Rumfelt; and cousin, Abigail (Abby) Rumfelt.

Lance graduated from McDowell High School and the University of North Carolina-Asheville. He found his true calling in life when he joined the McDowell County Department of Social Services in Child protection. He loved his job, purpose, coworkers and the children he protected. Just as importantly, more so for his family, they all loved him. After his assentation to heaven, a co-worker told his family that "Lance had no idea he had positively touched so many lives from Winston-Salem to Hendersonville in his job. He was what we should all be".

Lance loved his dog, "The Deac" an orphan he brought home at 5 weeks and fed with a dropper, the Carolina Panthers, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Mustangs, Ford Trucks, Colt Pistols, chicken, pizza, making a deal--oh how he loved making a deal, his gun trading buddies, his high school buddies, buying low and selling high, WWII history, secretly buying necessities for those in need, life, his girlfriend Amber, his big brother Russ, his mama and daddy and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He collected, lived, laughed and loved. He would take his dad to chemo in Winston-Salem staying in the car 8 hours and come home and begin follow-up in his cases at work. While our hearts are broken by this gigantic hole in our family and lives, we have the blessed assurance of knowing Jesus was his and we shall see him again on the other side.  We thank God for the 28 wonderful years we had with him.

Lance will lie in state from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at Beam Funeral Service & Crematory.

A private entombment will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Lance’s memory are asked to consider, McDowell County Department of Social Services-Child Services, P.O. Box 338, Marion, North Carolina 28752.