Gladys Joyce Lavender

Gladys "Joyce" Lavender, (born Gladys Joyce Ward), aged 92, died this July 19th. She was born August 14th, 1925 in Victoria, Texas. Her parents, William and Effie Ward raised their family in Cypress-Fairbanks, Texas, and she was the youngest of their 4 children.

After Cypress-Fairbanks High School, Joyce made the bold move to relocate to Houston, to go to business college to become a secretary. She stayed at the downtown YWCA and at a USO dance there, she met Air Force 1st Lieutenant, Gerry Lavender, who became her husband of 70 years. She worked as an administrative assistant to oil and gas executives until her retirement, raised two children and moved often due to her husband's career as a geophysicist. Their home was filled with horses, dogs, cats and all kinds of animals. She was a natural musician on piano, a talented singer, and a great lover of books.

Joyce is survived by her son Gerry Lavender and daughter in-law Carol, of San Antonio, her daughter Diane Fugate and son in-law John, her grandsons Sean Fugate, and his wife Junli, and Dillon Fugate and his wife Jennifer, and her great grandson, Grady Fugate, all of Houston.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be given to San Antonio Public Library Foundation @ SAPLF.org.

Services to be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on July 30th at, 9:30 a.m.