Royal E. Dance

Royal Edward Dance, 81, passed away on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

Royal, nicknamed “Thomas” by his family, was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on January 11, 1941.  He graduated from P.W. Moore Senior High School and was later drafted into the U.S. Army to serve his country during the Viet Nam War. Royal would later marry Aldon (Ella) Brockett Dance and continue to serve honorably for twenty-three years, retiring in 1988.  He was a life member of the Air Defense Artillery Association and the Disabled American Veterans Organization.

Royal worked at Continental Sprayers for ten years while continuing his education at El Paso Community College.  He then accepted a position with the State of Texas, serving as the Facility Maintenance Supervisor at the El Paso State Center for fourteen years until his retirement.

A humble servant of the Lord, he was a door greeter, usher and member of the Men’s Choir and Auxiliary for the Gospel Service at Chapel 4 on Fort Bliss, TX. He later joined the congregation at Christo Rey Catholic Church where he fellowshipped faithfully.

He had a passion for entrepreneurship and philanthropic causes. Through the years, he operated three small businesses and generously donated to many charities and organizations, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Peale Foundation being two of his favorites.

Royal is preceded in death by his parents, George Ed and Florence Whedbee Dance, his wife, Ella Brockett Dance, and his brother, Phillip Dance.  He leaves behind his sister, Annie Dance Barnett, sons Christopher S. Dance and Robert W. Brockett (Mollie), a daughter, Erika L. Dance, three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, his loving companion of many years, Maria Elodia Salas, her children, Gabriela Ibrahim (Bashar) and Alfredo Salas (Lynette), her two grandchildren whom he loved and cherished as his own, and a host of other family and friends.

Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm with a Rosary at 6:00 pm, Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at Sunset Funeral Homes – East, 750 N. Carolina Dr., El Paso TX 79915.  Funeral Mass will be held at 12:00 pm, Thursday, June 23, 2022 at Christo Rey Catholic Church, 8011 Williamette Ave, El Paso, TX 79907. Interment will follow at 2:00 pm at Fort Bliss National Cemetery with Military Honors.

Pall Bearers: Alfredo Salas, Bashar Ibrahim, Omer Ibrahim, Ameen Ibrahim, Fabian Webster, and Angel Smith.

Honorary Pall Bearers: Fidel Perez and Robert Brockett.