With his lifelong love, wife Linda, by his side and surrounded also by his loving family, Townsend Dickerson Van Camp II passed away on May 13, 2017.
Born on July 16, 1939, in Dayton, Ohio, to Virgilina (Griffis) and George W. Van Camp, Van Camp moved to Circleville as a small child, graduated from Circleville High School in 1957, and attended The Ohio State University where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and had the honour of being elected the Gold Digger King for the university.
He was an asphalt paving contractor for 50 years and was associated with Van Camp Contracting Company and Anderson Concrete.
Along with his family, he enjoyed a love for Standardbreds and their farms and was blessed with success in the breeding, raising and sale of several world champions.
He also loved the water, boating and fishing with his friends and family at his second home in Burnt Store Marina, Fla.
He served as president of the Harness Horse Youth Foundation, president of the United Way, president of Chamber of Commerce, and was a Rotarian Paul Harris Fellow, a 50-year member of the B.P.O.E., and a member of The Platinum Point Yacht Club, Punta Gorda, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Virgilina; grandfather, Townsend D.; mother-in-law, Garnett Emerine Lingo; father-in-law, Emmitt Emerine; brothers-in-law, Wendell R. Emerine and Emmitt Emerine Jr.; step-grandson, David L. Miesse II; and nephew Mark Alan Emerine.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Linda Emerine Van Camp; son, T.D. III (Sharon); daughter, Deidre (David) Miesse; grandchildren, Ariana Miesse, Marena Miesse, Stone and Brenlin; step-grandson, Joseph (Sachia) Miesse; Victoria (widow of David Miesse III); step-granddaughters, Andrea (Obadiah) Harris and Whitney Haddox; three great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Sally Emerine and Janet (Darrell) Norris; nieces, Tonya Apke and Krista McGee; nephews, Chad Emerine and Eric Emerine; cousins, Nancy Linkous, Beverly Fitzgerald, Griffis and Charles and David Jan Worthington, Dickie Griffis, and Priscilla Sandy; and special friend and long-time farm manager, Joseph Lee.
Van Camp always looked forward to spending time with his children and grandchildren, loving and laughing, and will be dearly missed by all.
The family will receive friends at Wellman Funeral Home, 1455 N. Court St., Circleville on Friday (May 19) from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. The funeral services will be held at The Heritage Nazarene Church, 2264 Walnut Creek Pike, Circleville on Saturday (May 20) at 11:00 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Harness Horse Youth Foundation, 16575 Cary Rd., Westfield, IN 46074 or to The Heritage Nazarene Church, Upward Athletic Program, 2264 Walnut Creek Pike, or to a charity of your choice.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Townsend Dickerson Van Camp.
(with files from USTA)