Douglas L. Van Lear

Douglas Leon Van Lear, 81, passed away June 8, 2023. He was born June 28, 1941 in Staunton, Virginia to Oney A. (OA) and Catherine (Trimble) Van Lear.

Mr. Van Lear served in the United States Navy from 1966 to 1976, including two tours in Vietnam and ten years in the Navy Reserves. Doug was also a life-time member of the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1061 in Harrisonburg and a member of the American Legion Post 13 of Staunton.

After retiring from DuPont as a mechanic with 33 years of service, he became a self-taught, accomplished woodworker. His favorite saying, which he often used, was, “that is a solution waiting for a problem”.

Mr. Van Lear graduated from Churchville High School in 1959. He was a member of Jerusalem Chapel United Brethren in Christ, was a Man of God and quite a Bible scholar. Doug was actively involved in the Churchville Community Food Pantry. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in his more youthful years.

Doug is survived by his wife, Glenda (Blackwell) Van Lear; his daughter, Catherine (Bow) Parr, two grandsons, Tyler (Brandi) Michael and Cody Parr; and a great-granddaughter, Adalyn Michael. He is also survived by a brother, Philip (Dottie) Van Lear; several nieces, nephews and cousins; two stepchildren, Jennifer Newbold and Chris Blackwell; and two step-granddaughters, Madeline and Waverly Blackwell.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Monday, June 12, 2023 at Henry Funeral Home and other times at the residence.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, June 13, 2023 in the Henry Funeral Home Chapel with Pastors George Etling and Lester Kennedy officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at the Green Hill Cemetery in Churchville.

Active pallbearers will be Tyler Michael, Cody Parr, Andrew Van Lear, Jamie Van Lear, Gerald Botkin, Alan Sloan, Mark Botkin, Patrick Parr, and Warren Miller. Honorary pallbearers will be Arthur Pilgrim Sunday School Class.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jerusalem Chapel United Brethren in Christ (935 Jerusalem Chapel Road, Churchville, VA 24421) or the Churchville Community Food Pantry (P. O. Box 22, Churchville, VA 24421).