Robert T. Van Vleck

            We are gathered this morning to bear witness to our faith in the resurrection, the resurrection of all who are buried in Jesus Christ the Lord and the resurrection of Robert Theodore Van Vleck. Bob died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, after a long battle with atrophy of the cerebellum.  He was 83.

             Bob was born in Pittsburgh during the flu epidemic of 1918.  An only child, Bob’s mother was 40 at the time of his birth.  The Salutatorian of his high school class of 1936, Bob was headed to the University of Pittsburgh when his minister intervened and encouraged him to attend Presbyterian Church related Grove City College.  Bob waited on tables for 36 cents an hour during his Grove City years, graduating in 1940.  He then took a masters degree in chemistry at Western Reserve University.

             On June 18, 1941, Bob began work with Texaco at its Beacon, NY, labs. He must have liked the job, because he stayed with the company for 41 years.

             Bob arrived in Beacon with all his belongings in one suitcase, took up residence at a local boarding house, and joined the Presbyterian Church – which was by far the most important thing he did that year. For not long after joining the church’s Christian Endeavor group he met Dorothy Weaver.  Bob and Babs married in November 1943, and shared 58 years and four children.

             Although his work with Texaco was considered part of the growing war effort, in 1942 Bob enlisted in the Army Air Corps, attended NYU, and became a weather officer. Interesting enough, his first posting was Byrd Field here in Richmond.

             After the war Bob returned to Texaco and the Beacon Labs.  Shortly he and Babs moved to adjoining Fishkill, NY, where they lived until they moved to Richmond in 1963.  When Texaco closed their Richmond operations in 1976, they returned to Beacon.  After Bob retired they returned to Richmond in 1988.

             Bob had a productive and satisfying career with Texaco, but his heart and greatest energies were spent in his community and his church.  Bob was a “doer”.  Bob was a tireless worker in civic organizations and community causes.  He had a deep commitment to public education, serving an elected term on the school board while in NY and working on the Committee for Excellence in Education when the Richmond Schools were integrated following the annexation fights on the late 1960’s.

             But above all, Bob was a man of the church.  Befitting a man whose middle name, Theodore, meant “gift of God”, and whose grandfather and great grandfather were bishops in the Moravian Church, Bob was devoted to Jesus Christ and the community of faith gathered in the church.  Apart from a sojourn in the United Methodist Church in Fishkill, NY, Bob was a lifelong Presbyterian and proud of it.  He was a long time member here at the Bon Air Presbyterian Church.

             Bob was an ordained Presbyterian elder.  He served in numerous official and unofficial positions of leadership in the various churches of which he was a member. 

He was a Sunday School teacher and Sunday School superintendent.  He sang in the choir.  He served on Evangelism, Finance, Personnel, Mission and Building committees. For a time he was a lay preacher. And he was always there.  As recently as five years ago he and Babs posted perfect attendance in worship for an entire year!  Over the years generations that entered the doors of his church were met first by Bob Van Vleck. His genuine interest in and concern for others was transparent.  His warmth passed from him to visitor, newcomer, and beloved friend alike – all through his ready and firm handshake. 

             More importantly, and most importantly, the faith of the church was his faith.  The values of the church, were his values.  The life of the church was his life. Bob shared with the biblical prophets a vision of social justice.  And he worked at enacting that vision in everyday and practical activities of care and compassion.

             Bob loved Pennsylvania produced Hershey’s chocolate, music, reading, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and dogs.  With the chocolate and the dogs at the head of the list.

             Bob was devoted to his family, and somehow squeezed in coaching baseball and other fatherly activities, among his various efforts at building up the community and trying to save the world.  But like many dads of his generation, his relationship with children grew deeper as they entered adulthood and he approached the sunset of his life.  The increasing demands of his care provided opportunities for his children to reconnect and renew family ties.    

             Bob was known for his abiding sense of humor, some of it cornball, all of it infectious.  Even after his mental capacities began to slip, Bob retained his sense of humor – and invited you to laugh not AT him, but WITH him.  On his first day in the dementia unit at Manor House, for example, Bob found himself sitting at table with a friend and fellow member of Bon Air Presbyterian, Tommy Kellam.  Bob said to Tommy, “the food is good and the fellowship is good, but do you think we have to stay for the whole service?”   

             Bob never met a stranger. At least he THOUGHT he never met a stranger.  Back in the early 1970’s he and Babs took a trip to Paris.  They went right from the airport to the Louvre.  Bob spied somebody across the street, and crossed over to speak to him.  “Hello, I am Bob Van Vleck.  Aren’t you from Poughkeepsie?”  The man replied, “I am Ambassador Cyrus Vance, and I am here for the Paris Peace Talks”.

             Bob is survived by his wife Babs; their four children: Robert H. Van Vleck and his wife, Ann , Elizabeth S. Van Vleck , Barbara V. Jacocks and her husband, Henry, William H. Van Vleck and his wife, Gaylynn; and eight grandchildren. One grandchild, Andrew Van Vleck, preceded him in death.  Our love, prayers, and sympathy are with you all.

             We have gathered to give thanks for the life and love we have shared with our dear friend, husband, father, and grandfather, to share our grief together, and to hear the witness and testimony of the Scriptures.  Let us worship God: 

R. Charles Grant

Bon Air Presbyterian Church  

May 24, 2002