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Stanley Van Vliet Lyman, 91, of Essex, formerly a resident of Old Lyme and Basking Ridge, New Jersey, passed away on May 27 at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown of complications from a fall. “Van” to all who knew him was born on Aug. 21, 1925, in Westfield, New Jersey, the son of the late Guy Stevens Lyman and Janet Cornwall Van Vliet. He was a direct descendant of Richard Lyman, one of the first settlers of Hartford.

He was a graduate of Westfield High School, class of 1943, and received a BS degree from Northwestern University in 1948. During WWII he served in the Army from Oct. 19, 1943, to Aug. 2, 1945. He was with the 86th Infantry “Black Hawk” Division, 342nd Regiment, Company G. He was seriously wounded in Germany April 26, 1945, for which he received the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman’s Medal.

He was married in 1952 to Adriane Frances Heim of Cranford, New Jersey, who predeceased him in 2001. He was employed by Englehard Industries for 31 years, retiring as director of sales and marketing. He was a loyal New York Giants and Cleveland Indians fan, and devoted dog owner, “collecting” 12 Scotties and an Airedale terrier over the years.

In 2005 Van married Julie Owens Sanderson in Old Lyme. Together they enjoyed traveling, both in the United States and abroad, taking many a river cruise in later years. Van loved the beauty of the Connecticut River Valley and the local museums that cherished that beauty.

In addition to his wife, Van is survived by his daughters Judith (James) Snow of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and Gwen (Patrick) Apfel of St. Johnsville, New York; and his grandchildren Kevin and Valerie Snow and Eric and Alexandre Apfel. He also leaves three step-children, Katharine (Richard) Heidlage, Terry (Roger W.) Smith, and George B. (Carolyn) Sanderson; his nine step-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; nieces Christine Lyman and Katherine Feit; and nephews Gerald, Peter, and Scott Lamb.

A memorial service will be held at Saint Ann’s Church, 82 Shore Rd., in Old Lyme, on Saturday, July 15 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Van’s name may be made to the Essex Meadows Scholarship Foundation, 30 Bokum Rd., Essex, CT 06426; the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills, 200 Mt. Airy Rd., Basking Ridge, NJ 07920; or to the Lamington Presbyterian Church, 300 Lamington Rd., Bedminster, NJ 07921. To share a memory of Van or send a condolence to his family, please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.