Charles James "Jim" Van Voorhis

Red Hook - Charles James "Jim" Van Voorhis, 79, of Red Hook, passed away at his home on Wednesday March 29, 2017, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Bridgeport, CT on October 19, 1937, he was the son of the late Charles James and Elizabeth (Lesser) Van Voorhis, Sr.

Jim graduated from the Newburgh Free Academy and served in the National Guard for 8 years. He married Beverly Jane Henry on August 20, 1960 at the Trinity Methodist Church in Beacon, NY.

While raising their children in Rhinebeck, Jim and Bev were entirely self sustaining. They maintained a small family farm including the Geiten Land Dairy Goat Herd.

Jim attended Floral Design School in New York City and returned to Newburgh to work for Charles Foti at Foti Florist. In 1959 he purchased his own shop, Spy Hill Florist, in Beacon; and in 1962 Jim became the manager of E.A. Coon and Co. Florist in Rhinebeck. He was well known and respected in this area for his stunning floral designs and in 1980, he purchased the business, keeping the name and continuing to provide the Hudson Valley with arrangements for all occasions until his retirement in 1996. During his career he also designed for the New York Metropolitan Retail Florist, the International Floral Show; the Connecticut State Florist Assoc.; and the Maryland State Florist Assoc. In 1988 he was the 1988 FTD regional floral design winner.

Since his retirement Jim has taught adult education courses for 15 years, has traveled through US extensively, only missing two states, and has worked the holiday season designing at Battenfeld Tree Farm.

Jim was also a very involved with the community. He was a member of the Rhinebeck Rotary where he planned and constructed the haunted house, he assisted with the Rhinebeck Halloween Parades; in addition, he was a member of the Rhinebeck Chamber of Commerce and a 4H leader of the Kapricorn Kids Club.

Jim was a very involved with several churches including the Rhinebeck, Red Hook and Rowe United Methodist Churches; as well as the St. John's Reformed Church, Upper Red Hook.

Jim is survived by his wife Beverly; two children, Jennifer Van Voorhis of Sterling Heights, MI, and Bill, and his wife Donna of Rhinebeck; three grandchildren, Casey, Taylor and Sabrina; a brother Robert, and his wife Ann of Newburgh; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was predeceased by his sister, Beth.

Visitation will be held on Monday April 3, from 11 to 1 PM at the Dapson-Chestney Funeral Home, 51 West Market Street, Rhinebeck.

A memorial service will be held at the funeral home at 1 PM. Burial will follow at Wurtemburg Cemetery in Rhinebeck. A reception will be held immediately after the burial at St. John's Reformed Church in Upper Red Hook.

Memorial Contributions in honor of Jim and his grandson Taylor Van Voorhis can be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 1 Marcus Blvd suite 203,Albany NY 12205.

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