Haymond Van Summers Jr.
Oct. 21, 1941 – Aug. 28, 2020
Haymond Van Summers, Jr., 78, of Richmond, Virginia gained his heavenly reward on August 28, 2020. He passed away at Henrico Doctors Hospital on Forest Avenue while recovering after a valiant battle with Covid-19.
Van served as a Military Police Officer in the US Army during the Vietnam War, and spent most of his career as a salesman in the construction industry. Most rewarding was his tenure as a volunteer chaplain for Fauquier Hospital and Deacon at Warrenton Assembly of God. Van never met a stranger, and always made a friend everywhere he went. He was never ashamed to talk about God with whomever would listen, and exemplified the love of Christ in all he did and said. He was a beloved Father, Grandfather and a friend to all who needed one. The greatest joy in his life was spending time with those he loved.
He was preceded in death by his Father, Mother and sister, Mary Ann Groves of Leonia, NJ. He is survived by his two daughters Rachel Barnes and Jennifer Garretson, and his sons-in-law, Roy Barnes, Eli Garretson, and Joe Kinkella, and his grandchildren Ethan and Everett Barnes and Joey and Jaclyn Kinkella. Also surviving are his ex-wife, Shirley Pomeroy, his Brother-in-law, Joel Lee Groves and his nephew and niece, Mark and Jill Groves.
A celebration of life service will be held at a later date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project. The family would also like to thank the staff of ManorCare Imperial Plaza for their loving care of Van.
Your absence will be greatly felt for quite some time. I miss you VAN but I will see you again in heaven. I am praying for your family that they will have peace. I pray to the Holy Spirit to wrap His arms around them and comfort them. Know that you and they are loved and cherished. Your friend and sister in the Lord. Carol Lynn
Thank you so much Carol! Dad loved you dearly, and he cherished your friendship so much! We will definitely see him again! God bless you❤
Van was one of the most loving, caring & giving people that I ever met. We used to love to go visit him and take him popcorn and Hershey candy bars, he loved it! His face would light up like a Christmas Tree😀when we would go visit & lift him up. When you left he was the one that lifted you up! ❤️ He loved Jesus with all of his heart and he would say can I pray with you 😊. He also taught us it was okay to cry, that when you cry they are liquid prayers…I loved this man, he was a dear friend and I love his family❤️❤️❤️. I will continue to pray 🙏for this beautiful family. RIP my friend until we meet again.
Thank you, Cheryl! You and David are such faithful friends, and Dad always spoke about how thoughtful you were bringing him goodies every time you would visit! He was so grateful for how your guidance and support helped him through the grief of losing his sister. Thank you for the love your family showed him❤
Mr. Summer was a dear, sweet man who shared his faith and love freely with others. He has now paid the price and is assured of an life in Paradise free from sorrow, sickness and death.
How wonderful it will be to spend countless days with him then!
Peace and blessings to you all. I am Sabrina, one of Mr. Van nurses aides. What a privilege to have meet such a wonderful man. I always told him, he took care of me. He made work worth it everyday. Rest my friend see you again with our Lord. May God bless all of you in this time.
Thank you, Sabrina!! Dad loved you so much, and we are so thankful that he had the privilege of being cared for by you! Your prayers always meant the world to him (and to me!), and the love and kindness you always showed him gave us so much comfort, knowing he was on good hands. God bless!❤
Thank you, Kati! Our hope of Paradise provides so much comfort ❤
Your dad was a loving, kindhearted man who love life and his family, his faith in God was unbreakable, strong, and he shared a smile and his daughter with me and my family who becamey daughter in my heart, know you are loved by many,, He raised a wonderful loving daughter who love of God was as strong as his, God recieved a man he knows through life as one of his flock, he will be greatly missed, especially by you, and yours. God Bless your family at this time.
Thank you so much Momma Martin! We love you dearly!!❤
Van and I worked at Lowes. Our registers were next to each other. I was privileged to see him minister to those who were hurting and down on their luck. Even though I only worked there for 1 year, we became very close friends for over 10 years. He lived his life in the image of Christ. I will be forever grateful for the love he showed me, and the example he set for me as a Christian gentleman, and father. I know he is in heaven, and I can’t wait to see him again.
Earnie, thank you so much for your unwavering love and friendship for Dad. He thought the world of you and your whole family, and he always spoke about your children like they were his very own! Your impact on his life will never be forgotten, and I know we will see him again!❤
Mr Summers……
There are sooo many beautiful words to describe him.
He knew how I felt about him. He knew he was more than Special to me.
I have had the Honor to have held His Hands many of times.
I Have been Blessed to have had Him Lay His Blessed Hands on me and Pray for me and my Family.
We have Shared many Conversations and Hugs and Laughs and Even Tears.
He Loved the LORD, His Family and People.
My Only Regret is Not seeing Him again before He Passed Away.
I KNOW in my HEART, Mr Summers is at Rest, in Peace with GOD.
He is in the Presence of GOD and He is Happy and Rejoicing and Singing( He Loved Praise and Worship music).
To the FAMILY of Mr Summers….
He was an Amazing and Kind and Gentleman of GOD.
He Spoke of his Family often. He Loved His Family.
Rachel and Family my Deepest Condolences along with a Great Big Hug! You did a JOB WELL DONE!
My Heart is Sad because I won’t see my Friend Again on this Side. But I will see Him Again Someday.
He was the Heart of Manor Care Imperial and my #1 Patient❤️
With Living Memories
Maria E Walker, LPN
Manor Care Imperial
Oh Maria! Dad loved you so much! He talked of you often, and we prayed for you and your family many times during my visits. Thank you so much for your genuine and loving care. You were so much more than his nurse…you became family! God bless you and yours, and yes- we will see him again soon!
Rachel
Love and miss you Papa! ❤️
Sweet Joey! Your Papa loved you so very much! You were the one who made him a Grandfather, and the pride he felt watching you grow into the fine young man you are now was the joy of his life! He is with you everywhere you go, so be looking for signs of his presence around you. He will be rejoicing from heaven when you get your Eagle scout! Pursue God in all you do–that is the legacy he hoped to leave you! Love you so much❤
Rachel
These comments are very moving and since Uncle Van’s passing just over three weeks ago, I have thought often about how rare indeed are those character traits he exemplified so consistently–wholehearted compassion and warmth, his strong religious faith, his nonjudgmental/charitable nature and his generous spirit. Every memory of our visits over the years was characterized by this warmth which I also felt from my mother–his sister, and observed always expressed between the two of them. Such a gift to have in one’s life! Uncle Van was such as wonderful man and terrific example as a loving father, uncle, grandfather. I am touched (but not surprised) at the testimonies of some of his caregivers at ManorCare–his deep warmly expressed appreciation for other’s caring I can envision as nourishing his caregivers’s spirits. Thank you to all who cared for this special man and Rachel especially for your constant advocacy and care to the end.
While the pandemic has delayed our ability to share/celebrate memories and hugs in person with Rachel, Jennifer, Ethan, Everett, Joey, Jaclyn, Joe, Roy and Eli, we look forward to such an opportunity in the future whenever that will be… With love, Mark Groves
Thank you Mark. Nothing made Dad happier than spending time with you and your whole family. I have never seen siblings more loving and devoted to one another than Dad and your Mom. The thought of them being reunited in heaven is the greatest comfort to me! Dad was so proud of you and Jill, and truly felt like you were his own! We love you dearly, and hope to see you very soon❤
Rachel
If you knew Van, you heard about Jesus. If you knew Van, you were greeted with a large smile. If you knew Van, you were encouraged to love and forgive others. If you knew Van, you know that he loved his girls and their families. If you knew Van, you felt like his best friend. If you knew Van, you experienced humility on a level you never thought possible. If you knew Van, you were visited at your house like a member of his family. If you knew Van, you know he is in heaven glorifying God with his hands raised high.
Oh Amy! I am so glad that you got to know and love Dad! You describe him perfectly. He prayed for you and Jon and your children often, and loved you like one of his own! Thank you for your friendship and love all of these years❤
My God Bless you, the family of Van Summers. I was blessed to have him as a friend. I met him when I worked at BJ’s bookstore in Warrenton. We stayed in contact even after he moved. I don’t have enough words to describe what his friendship meant to me and how good and kind he was. The world needs more like him.
Thank you Marcy for your kind words and friendship. Dad loved his books, and he made a friend everywhere he went, so I’m sure you saw a lot of him while living in Warrenton! So thankful for the impact he had in your life, and I know he appreciated your support and love as well!! God bless❤