James Russell Vandevander Leaves a Legacy of Family Devotion, Hard Work and Outdoor Passions

 Circleville, West Virginia, is mourning James Russell Vandevander, who died Sunday, September 13, 2026, after injuries sustained in a single-vehicle rollover crash in Highland County, Virginia. Vandevander was 59. His death brought grief to relatives, friends, and others who knew him through family, work, church, and the outdoors. He was remembered as a hardworking family man whose connection to the outdoors and practical skills formed important parts of his identity and daily life.

According to authorities, emergency crews were called around 4:25 p.m. to Highland Turnpike, east of Route 614, after the rollover was reported. Investigators said Vandevander was driving a Toyota Scion when the vehicle left the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. He received emergency medical treatment before being transported to University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville. He later died from injuries sustained in the crash. Investigators continue documenting the final emergency response and circumstances surrounding the collision.

Vandevander was born June 16, 1967, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and spent his life in Circleville. He graduated from Circleville High School in 1985, remaining closely connected to the community. His working life included 21 years at the Walmart Distribution Center in Mt. Crawford, Virginia. He was also a member of Big Run Baptist Church, adding another lasting connection to the community and people around him. These long-term commitments illustrate the continuity of his life in the region and his ties to those around him.

Outside work and church, Vandevander found enjoyment in activities that kept him connected to the outdoors and hands-on pursuits. Family and friends remembered his love of hunting, fishing, and hiking, interests that connected him with the outdoors. He was also known for mechanical repair work, reflecting a practical ability to work with his hands and solve problems. Together, these interests provide a glimpse into the everyday passions that helped define him beyond employment, responsibilities, and routine.

His family now faces the difficult reality of continuing without someone who had been a steady presence for decades. Vandevander leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Tammy Marie (Bennett) Vandevander, along with children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his mother, siblings, extended relatives, and many friends. For each of them, grief will be shaped by years of shared experiences. The memories created across family gatherings, conversations, outdoor activities, and ordinary days will become part of how his life is remembered by those closest to him.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin, West Virginia, with visitation and services scheduled to honor Vandevander’s life. Such gatherings can bring relatives, friends, church members, coworkers, and community members together. They also create space for people to remember the person behind the obituary details and celebrate his life: a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, sibling, church member, coworker, and friend whose relationships extended across many parts of his life.

James Russell Vandevander’s story ultimately centers on family, work, faith, community, and the interests he pursued away from his job. His death following the Highland Turnpike crash ended a life that had remained closely connected to Circleville for 59 years. Those who knew him can preserve his memory through stories passed among generations. His dedication to family, years of employment, church membership, love of hunting, fishing, hiking, and mechanical work will remain meaningful parts of the life his loved ones remember for years.