Claude Van Dyke

TAZEWELL, Va. – Claude Harrison Van Dyke, age 83, died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, at home as he was leaving for the funeral of his older brother, William, who was his best friend and daily companion.
Born Aug. 20, 1924, in Honaker, Va., he was the son of the late Rufus Oscar (R.O.) Van Dyke Sr. and Mary Elizabeth (Mollie) Hubbard Van Dyke. Claude loved his wife and family and was happiest working in his garden, feeding his cows and, for many years, playing golf with his friends. In the last few years, everyone knew he was a mainstay for lunch at the Coal Bucket Deli.
Mr. Van Dyke attended public schools in Tazewell, graduating from Tazewell High School in 1941. His subsequent education at Virginia Tech was interrupted by his service in World War II with the U.S. Air Force in the Philippines, where he participated in a special program through Rutgers University repairing airplane radios. Upon his return, he attended North Carolina State on the GI bill, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering. He then returned to Tazewell to work in the family coal business.
He was president of Candlewax Smokeless Fuel Co., of which Tazewell Equipment and Motor Corp. is a subsidiary, and Lynnwood Corp., of which Peery & St. Clair Furniture and Funeral Home Inc. is a subsidiary. He was also president of Garden Banner Corp., Holston Corp., New Garden Coal Corp. and Consumer's Mining Corp. He was vice president of R.O. Van Dyke and Co. and secretary/treasurer of Big Lick Coal Corp. and Lynn Camp Coal Corp. In addition, he served as chairman of the board for Tazewell National Bank for many years, as well as being the business owner of Van's.
A lifelong member of the Main Street United Methodist Church, he loved singing in the choir every Sunday. His community service to southwest Virginia spanned many years and included membership on the board of the church, chairman of the school board and more than 50 years in the Lions Club. On any Friday night during football season, one would find him popping popcorn at the Tazewell Bulldog concessions. On a cold night, he would retreat to his nearby pickup truck and listen to the game on the radio. He also chaired the board of trustees at Emory & Henry College, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate, continuing the Van Dyke legacy of ongoing support and involvement in higher education.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Edward Ralph Van Dyke and William Howard Van Dyke, and his grandchild, Caroline Jay Wisman.
Survivors include his wife and son, Bettye Harman Van Dyke and George Oscar Van Dyke, who reside at his home; three other sons, Roger Steven Van Dyke and wife Ann Harman Van Dyke of Tazewell, Litz Harman Van Dyke and wife Jackie Dunn Van Dyke of Charlottesville, Va., and Bradley Stuart Strong and wife Mary Ann Mullins Strong of Richlands, Va.; four daughters, Linda Ann Van Dyke of Greensboro, N.C., Marty Van Dyke Peery and husband Dr. William Wade Peery of Galax, Va., Claudia "Poody" Van Dyke Wisman and husband Dr. Paul P. Wisman Jr. of Charlottesville and Mollie Van Dyke Firebaugh and husband Jay G. Firebaugh Jr. of Richmond, Va.; 22 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two sisters, Mary Elizabeth Van Dyke of Greensboro and Virginia Mae Van Dyke Kinney of Tazewell and Bradenton, Fla.; one brother, Dr. R.O. Van Dyke Jr. and wife Bonnie Lewis Van Dyke of Orlando, Fla.; and sister-in-law, Suzanne Litz Davis Van Dyke of Tazewell, wife of deceased brother, William.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008, at the Main Street United Methodist Church in Tazewell, with the Rev. Kathie Wilson-Parker officiating. Burial will follow at the Maplewood Cemetery in Tazewell.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Bill Van Dyke, Jerome Courtney Moore, Jeffrey Andrew Moore, Wade Hampton Peery, Harrison Van Dyke Peery, Jack Van Dyke Wisman, Roger Steven Van Dyke and Kyle Ross Wisman. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Galliher, Andy Clark, Bill Jackson, Bill T. Peery, Dick Royal, Dr. Ed Plagata, Jack Chambers, Howard Shepherd and Dr. Dave Stanton.
The family will receive friends at Peery and St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, 2008.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Four Seasons YMCA, P.O. Box 625, Tazewell, VA 24651; or Main Street United Methodist Church, 315 E. Main St., Tazewell, VA 24651.