December 16, 2018 – Donald Van Benschoten, also known as Coach Van and more recently as Gaggy (his favorite name), passed away surrounded by loved ones on December 16, 2018, at the age of 82. Don was born in Stanfordville, NY and moved to Southern Pines, NC with his family as a teenager. He is a graduate of both Guilford College and the University of Virginia where he received his master’s degree. He moved to Virginia Beach after college and began his 30+year career as an educator with Virginia Beach public schools. His greatest joy was being head baseball coach for the Princess Anne Cavaliers and he loved telling stories about his players. After retirement in 1996, he built and moved into a new home in Deltaville, Virginia. He remained active in retirement, serving as a trustee in his church, woodworking in his garage and traveling. He was a skilled carpenter and craftsman, a sailor, a reader of history, and a life-long Yankees fan whose favorite player was Yogi Berra. He was also a gifted needler and harasser, as many of his friends and all of his nephews can attest. He was the best husband, father, grandfather, uncle, father-in-law and friend anyone could ask for. Don was preceded in death by his parents Chester and Dorothy Van Benschoten and brother John Van Benschoten. He is survived by Pauline Van Benschoten his loving wife of 55 years, his son and daughter-in-law Tom and Heather Van Benschoten, his grandsons Nathan and Alex and his brother Lynn Van Benschoten. A memorial service will be held at Clarksbury United Methodist Church in Deltaville, Virginia on Saturday, January 12, at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Clarksbury United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 10, Hardyville, VA 23070 or Middlesex County Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 98, Deltaville, VA 23043. Arrangements by Faulkner Funeral Homes, Bristow-Faulkner Chapel, Saluda, VA.
