Van was a mentor to me, but more importantly he was a friend to me. I loved him dearly, and was always in awe of his presence and power within our community — when Van spoke, people listened. When I lived in Porterville, I would visit with Van pretty frequently. We’d have Lemon Drops and a few smokes on his back porch and we’d be each other’s support system. Van always had invaluable advice to offer, and I still carry his advice and I abide by much of it. Van was a part of so many organizations and volunteer services, but the Lions Club was his first and foremost favorite. He loved and cared about his fellow Lions, and I hope you all know that ❤️ I aspire to be as caring, compassionate, and as strong as Van was. May he Rest In Peace with those that he loves on the other side.