Age 89, was born in Lincoln, Illinois, on June 19, 1924, to Albert John Van Meter and Kathryn Palmer (Leffingwell) Van Meter. He was inducted into the Army in 1943 and served in France, Germany, and Czechoslovakia, and helped liberate concentration camps in Germany. After the war he attended Southern Methodist University, and in 1954 earned his law degree. He was corporate counsel for Trinity Universal Insurance Company, and later entered private practice in civil and criminal trial work.
He is survived by his loving wife Nelda; daughter Linda Van Cooper and husband Tom and daughters Kathryn and Sophie of Vermont; daughter Carolyn Van Meter and husband Peter and daughter Miriam of Germany; son Dr. Blake Van Meter and wife Sarah and children Beck, Rynn and Rex of Hawaii; and a brother, Kent Van Meter and his wife Carol, of McKinney, and nephew Chris and family.
Visitation will be at the Sparkman Richardson Funeral Home, 1029 S. Greenville Avenue, Richardson, Texas, on Monday, March 17, from 6:00 to 8:00. A service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, March 18, at 12:00, with burial to follow at 2:30 at the Dallas Fort Worth Veterans Cemetery.
