Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Jay Lawrence Lavender, 64, of Winona Lake, went home to be with his Lord and Savior at 3:26 p.m. Jan. 30, 2013. He was born Jan. 21, 1949, in Wellston, Ohio, to Albert Jack and Alma Edith Davis Lavender. She survives in Cincinnati, Ohio. On May 27, 1972, in Cincinnati, he married Joy Annette Landis, who survives in Winona Lake. A resident of Kosciusko County for the past 32 years, he was an attorney with Lavender & Bauer, P.C., Warsaw, for the past 28 years. He was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1982 and was also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court-Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana. He was the deputy prosecuting attorney for Kosciusko County from 1982-88 and the chief trial deputy for the Prosecuting Attorney's Office in Kosciusko County from 1983-88. He received a bachelor’s degree from Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio, in 1971, then received a juris doctorate degree from Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio, in 1981. He was a member of Delta Theta Phi Fraternity; the Kosciusko County, Indiana State and American Bar Associations; Indiana Trial Lawyers Association; and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He taught criminal law at Grace College, Winona Lake, from 1983 until his passing and he was the girls varsity basketball coach at Lakeland Christian Academy for 10 years. His greatest love was for the Lord and his family. He will also be lovingly remembered by a son, Derek Lavender, Indianapolis; a daughter, Courtney (and spouse Caleb) France, Winona Lake; a grandson, Tennyson France; two sisters, Claire (and spouse Rick) Conley and Jackie (and spouse Kevin) Landis, all of Cincinnati. He was preceded in death by his father, and a daughter, Kelli Joy Lavender, who passed away in 1985. There will be a come-and-go celebration of life luncheon from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Grace College Gordon Recreation Center, Kings Highway, Winona Lake, followed by a memorial service at 12:30 p.m., officiated by Pastor Denny Wilson. A private calling followed by a public graveside service will be Saturday at Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw. The procession will leave at 3:15 p.m. from Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw. ***** Memorials may be directed to Lakeland Christian Academy, 1093 S. 250E, Winona Lake, IN 46590 and would be appreciated by his family. Condolences may be sent via www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
