William Edgar Van Order

Born in Chattanooga, TN on January 26, 1936, Bill was the son of the late William Edgar Van Order Sr MD and Henrietta Caulkins Van Order.

Bill graduated from Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN and from Vanderbilt University. After receiving his degree he decided to pursue a career as an educator. His early accomplishments include a state championship highschool football game at Baylor, being selected as a Counselor's Aid at Camp Timanous, three varsity track letters at Vanderbilt and Pledge of the Year at Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Bill married Lillian Heath Buckbee on December 20, 1966 in Scarsdale, NY. Bill and Lill resided in West Newton, MA before moving to Deerfield, MA where the couple settled in a dorm at Eaglebrook School and raised their two children, Louise and Alan. Bill’s early teaching positions were at Vermont Academy and Fessenden School before spending 27 years at Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, MA. At Eaglebrook, Bill was a school administrator and taught math to the 7-9th grades as well as dorm head. Bill shared his love for sports by coaching track and field, football, wrestling and golf.

One contribution to the growth of the sport of wrestling in New England middle private schools is an annual wrestling tournament for this age group. The coaches from other schools started the “Van Order” Award that is given annually to coaches and aides that contributed to the furthering of the sport or wrestling. Bill spent 45 summers at Camp Timanous in Raymond, ME, 27 of them with Lill. During many of those 45 summers Bill ran the waterfront, set up the archery award system, and was program director. Bill and Lill both taught swimming and water safety skills. Many young people, including their son and daughter, developed into competitive swimmers under their tutelage on the docks. Bill and Lill served as examples for both campers and counselors. Listing accomplishments fails to capture the impact Bill had on the students, athletes, colleagues, campers and counselors over his life. Bill led with compassion, enthusiasm and humor. These characteristics fostered inclusion with an expectation of improvement in the classroom, on the docks and on the playing field.

He expected your best and valued effort, attitude, and even humor over outcome. These values defined his character. He was a true gentleman. Bill’s time at Baylor School, Vanderbilt University, Eaglebook School and Camp Timanous fostered many lifelong friends. Fraternity brothers enjoyed annual travel into their 80s. Golf friends witnessed multiple holes-in-one and rounds with a score under his age. Camp friends shared losses in backgammon, refreshing swims and boat tours of the lake. All endured endless bad jokes and worse puns that were repeated over our lifetime. He will be missed by many. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and sister Henrietta Van Order Stabler in September 2004.

 He is survived by his wife Lill of Wilmington, NC; his daughter Louise Van Order Hodson of Putney, VT, son-in-law Bryce Hodson and granddaughters Isabella “Bella” Hodson, and Eliza Hodson; his son Alan, of Washington, DC, daughter-in-law Kate Van Order and granddaughters Samatha Van Order and Kalie Van Order; and his nephew Albert Stabler, of Bloomington, IL, and wife Katie Fizdale and their child Mo.

The Memorial service was at First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington, NC on December 19, 2023 led by Reverend Dan Lewis and Reverend Tracey Daniel.

Thank you to numerous friends, the Carolina Bay community, Bradley Creek Health Care staff and Lower Cape Fear Life Care staff for your support.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Camp Timanous’s Sandy Tattersall Fund at https://www.timanous.org/donate.html or a charity of your choice.

The Tattersall Fund is an endowment that supports the camp experience that meant so much to Bill