William Herman “Bill” Vandevander, age 80, of Staunton, Virginia, went to his Heavenly Home Saturday, August 4, 2018, at his residence.
Born March 31, 1938, in Frank, he was a son of the late Woodrow and Beatrice Shifflet Vandevander. He was raised in Durbin by his beloved grandparents, the late George and Ethel Vandevander.
William was a graduate of Green Bank High School. He received his Associate’s Degree from Potomac State and earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Madison College (JMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He also attended the University of Virginia as he pursued a Ph.D.
In 1958, he married Rita Williams and moved to Craigsville, Virginia, where he was a teacher and Principal of Craigsville Elementary for 30 years. After which, he was the Director of the Adult Learning Center in Fishersville, Virginia.
William enjoyed going to auctions, collecting coins and antiques and fishing. He was a “people person” with a generous spirit and genuine love for others. His family was always of the utmost importance.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Rita Williams Vandevander; son, Jeffrey Vandevander, and wife, Alice “Sissy”, of Weyers Cave, Virginia; daughter, Kimberly Rathburn, and husband, Philip, of Staunton, Virginia; a brother, Robert Vandevander, and wife, Barb, of St. Paul, Minnesota; four grandchildren, Zachary Vandevander, and wife, Stefanie, of Weyers Cave, Virginia, Stephanie McCray, and husband, Leland, of Staunton, Virginia, Jessica Vandevander, of Olympia, Washington, and Ryan Rathburn, and wife, Ashley, of Lyndhurst, Virginia; and five great-grandchildren, Lani Goggin, Peyton McCray, Finley McCray, Sydney Vandevander and Arlo McCray.
Funeral service was held August 9 in the Estaline Valley Church of the Nazarene with Revs. Billy Curry and Claude Williams officiating. Burial was in Oaklawn Memory Gardens.
Active pallbearers were Daniel Sprouse, Randy Sprouse, John Stearn, Phil Knight, Vincent Doyle, Ed Clymore, Paul Davis and Paul Shirey, Jr.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Hospice of the Shenandoah for their care and compassion over the past three months.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in William’s honor may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10004; The American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060; or a charity of one’s choice.
Online condolences may be made at www.coffmanfuneralhome.net