Lillian Van Dover, 92, passed away peacefully the morning of Thursday, May 22, 2025. She now sings in the Heavenly Chorus. Lillian was born in Camden, NJ, to Andrew S. Foss and Elsie G. Johnson.
At the tender age of 17, she married the love of her life and became an Army wife; raising a family of 5 children and traveling the country and the world. She was a licensed practical nurse at various locations at Fort Campbell, KY and in Newport News. She earned her degree and became a registered nurse in 1989, and worked at the VA Hospital, Riverside, and as a home health nurse.
After years of travel, she and her family settled down in Newport News where she has spent much of the last 50 years. She was a long-standing member of the Regimental Memorial Chapel at Fort Eustis, where she sang in the choir, taught Vacation Bible School, served as both President and Vice-President of the Protestant Women of the Chapel, and was a member of the Hula Praise Team. Lillian developed many deep and very meaningful relationships with her women of the chapel, and she would like you to know how much she loves each of you.
Lillian was a woman ahead of her time. She accepted all without judgment; she lived her faith every moment of every day. Her very essence was one of love and acceptance. Her house was the one where kids gathered because they could be themselves and it was safe.
Lillian was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Abram Van Dover; her daughter, Teresa Van Dover; her son, Abram W. Van Dover and her son-in-law, Gene Crombine. She is survived by her daughters, Deborah Van Dover, Tina Schenck (Bill), and Ida Crombine; daughter-in-love, Judy McKinlay as well as her brother, Norman Albinson (Sue). In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the SPCA, as Lilian was a longtime supporter.
Lillian “Mama” has a relationship with our Lord, she believed strongly and deeply, and she passed her faith to her children. We will miss her with every fiber of our being, however, we know she is reunited with loved ones gone before, she has no pain, and we shall all be together again one day.
