Mrs. Lavena Marie George

Lavena was born at the Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis on November 3, 1938, the first of three daughters to Roland and Wenona Holl. Sisters Charlena and Wenona Gail joined the family in the next seven years.

Lavena attended public schools in the St. Louis suburb of Overland, Missouri, through fifth grade when the family of five moved to Sadorus, Illinois, to be close to her paternal grandmother Ida Holl. Lavena completed her schooling at Sadorus Grade School and West Unity Junior High in Sadorus, and then graduating in 1956 from Unity High School in Tolono, Illinois.

While in high school, Lavena was active in music where she played cornet and accompanied on piano the high school chorus and men’s ensemble. Besides competing at regional and state completion on her cornet, she accompanied on piano many students as they competed. She was editor of the student newspaper the Rocketeer, member of Quill and Scroll, and a charter member of the National Honor Society.

Lavena was confirmed in 1951 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sadorus, Illinois, and was a Sunday School teacher and the organist for Sunday School and church services until she moved in 1956.

After high school, Lavena worked at the University of Illinois in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research in the College of Education until she married Ralph B. George on March 1, 1958, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, New Mexico. For many years while her husband served in the Air Force at different bases, Lavena’s career was either with the military in administrative work, or as a music director with base chapels. They lived at Walker Air Force Base, Roswell, New Mexico; Westover Air Force Base in Springfield, Massachusetts; and finally Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California.

While at Walker AFB, she was organist at Immanuel Lutheran Church and worked full time at the Air Force Base in accounting and finance, procurement, and the squadron orderly room.

In 1963 Lavena and Ralph welcomed their only child, a daughter, Kerri.

Before moving to Westover AFB, Airman Ralph George had an 18-month assignment to Wheelus Air Base in Libya and Lavena and her daughter lived in Urbana, Illinois. During this time she worked at the University of Illinois at the Institute for Research on Exceptional Children.

While at Westover Air Force Base, Lavena was named “Wife of the Year”—an honor given annually; was a member of the NCO Wives Club being president for two years; a Red Cross volunteer at the base hospital; a volunteer at the Air Force legal office, answering phones and typing; a volunteer at the Air Force family services; and active in the Theatre Guild. Lavena was chapel organist at Westover Air Force Base for six years and was chapel organist at Castle Air Force Base for nearly 20 years.

It wasn’t until after her husband retired from the Air Force that Lavena had the opportunity to complete her college degree and attended Merced College and finally earned a Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude in 1985 from the California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, California. While there she studied piano, organ and harpsichord.

Lavena was confirmed in the Catholic faith and became a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Turlock, California. In 1994 Lavena was hired as the director of music ministries for the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Turlock and worked until early 2016 when she retired due to her health. There she was in charge of administrating the music program that includes several choirs, handbells, and playing piano and organ for church services. She was a member of YLI and Ave Regina of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Lavena’s hobbies included attending classical and sacred music concerts, attending church music workshops across the USA, scrapbooking, needlepoint, and fashion sewing. Earlier she enjoyed reading. She always enjoyeed background music throughout her home. Over the years, Lavena and Ralph loved their pet cats and recently two special cats, Ginger and Pepper, were constant company to Lavena until her passing.

In 2000, her only grandchild, Brendan Conner Russ, was born to daughter Kerri and son-in-law Joseph Russ.

Her husband Ralph B. George passed away in July, 2005. She also was preceded in death by her parents Roland Henry Holl and Wenona Vere Payne Holl. She is survived by her sisters Charlena and Wenona Gail and her daughter Kerri (Joe) Russ and grandson Brendan Russ.

There will be a visitation held for Lavena George from 2:00 to 8:00 PM on Monday, April 29, 2019 at Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service: 286 W. Main Street, Turlock, California. There will be a recitation of the rosary followed by a funeral mass at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, April 30 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church: 1301 Cooper Avenue in Turlock, California. She will be laid to rest following the services at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery: 32053 McCabe Road, Santa Nella, California.

Memorials in Lavena’s memory can be made to the American Diabetes Association, the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Turlock, California, or to a charity of your choice.

Services are under the care of Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service (FD504) in Turlock, California.