Rev. Robert "Van" Vanburen Capps

Known to live his life like Jesus, Rev. Robert "Van" VanBuren Capps, 81, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, in Fort Myers, Florida. He entered this world on August 19, 1938 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Van dedicated his life to sharing the love of the Lord with everyone he met. A graduate of Emory University, he served as Youth Week Pastor at First Baptist Church of Atlanta and State Music Director and State Vice President of Georgia BSU. He went onto graduate from Furman University and Southwestern Seminary with a Master of Divinity.

After seminary, Van was a pastor at First Baptist Church in Enterprise, Alabama and Pine Crest Baptist in Tampa, Florida. In 1968, he felt the call to go into full-time evangelism through the Van Capps Evangelistic Association.

Van once wrote: “Through the years, I have sought to understand the most effective means of reaching others with the gospel of Christ.” He practiced what he preached by always shining God’s light to every person he met.

Over the years, those who attended his revivals said many things, including: “You can sense the Spirit of the Living God moving in every service.”

Van always had a constant smile on his face, never complained, always had a kind word to share, praised God throughout every day, and selflessly lived with integrity. If only more people lived like he did, the world would be a better place.

Van touched the lives of so many throughout the years that his impact will be experienced for generations to come.

A 20-year resident of Sanibel, Florida, Van is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patsy Capps, and daughter, Joy Capps Parrish, and son-in-law, Robert Parrish of Charleston, South Carolina.

Visitation will be held 1:30 PM until service time at 2:00 PM on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the Marion Nelson Funeral Home with Rev. Harry Rhodes and Rev. Ed Howell officiating. Interment will be held at the Lake Wales Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to Ministry of Poller Israeli Ministries, c/o Lafayette Bible Baptist, 18810 Hwy 100, Pacific, MO 63039.