Lillian Warthen Lavine, 78, passed away peacefully at her home after a three-year battle with ALS in Houston, Texas on April 23, 2024. Lillian was born on March 21, 1946, to Clarence James Warthen and Bessie Lee (Clark) Warthen in Andalusia, Alabama. In 1950 the family moved to Pensacola, Florida where Lillian grew up. She graduated from Pensacola High School in 1964.
In 1966 Lillian married Joel Michael Gudahl and together they lived and worked in Thailand and Laos during the years of conflict in Southeast Asia. Joel died in 1972 and Lillian returned to Pensacola.
While out for an evening with friends in January 1973 she met David LaVine an Air Force Captain stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Neither Lillian or David had any intention of marriage so they convinced each other and themselves that they could just be friends. On June 15, 1973, the two friends married at Temple Beth El in Pensacola.
Thus began a partnership of rearing children, supporting each other’s careers, and sharing good times with family and friends. Lillian and David enjoyed playing bridge, but not too aggressively, ballroom dancing, but not too flamboyantly, and cooking savory dishes for family and friends, but not too fancily.
In 1974 Lillian and David left the Air Force and moved to Elmira, New York. Lillian would not be still and occupied her days selling Avon and Tupperware, substitute teaching, leading exercise classes, sewing hand puppets for craft fairs, and just having fun.
In 1977 Lillian and David came to Houston where Lillian was able to attend college at the University of Houston. She graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and English and a Masters in second language acquisition. Lillian received great satisfaction as a teaching assistant at U of H and as a Spanish teacher in the International Baccalaureate program at Lamar High School. Her students at Lamar competed in many district-wide contests and were able to garner many awards. She was an accomplished teacher, winning awards and demonstrating her techniques to other teachers. Lillian volunteered to settle Jewish refugees from Russia, and she was recognized as volunteer of the year by Jewish Family Services.
In 1989 the family moved to Clear Lake where Lillian became a residential Realtor. She applied her research and teaching skills to become very successful. Lillian worked for several brokerages over a 30-year period ultimately launching her own company, Clark Warthen Properties.
As Lillian’s real estate career slowed, she renewed her interest in family genealogy. Lillian was able to document her ancestry back to signers of the Magna Carta and became a member of thirteen heritage organizations. These included Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames of America, Jamestown Society, and National Society Magna Carta Dames.
On June 16, 2023, Lillian and David renewed their marriage vows of 50 years on the same altar where they were married at Temple Beth El, Pensacola.
Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, Bessie, and Clarence and daughter-in-law Rachel Lavine. She is survived by her sister Charlotte Dase, her husband David R. LaVine, her daughter Sarah Lavine-Kass, her son Benjamin Eli Warthen Lavine, her son-in-law Joseph Kass, and grandchildren Hannah Kass, Naomi Kass, Zoe Kass, Alexander Lavine, Andrew Lavine, and Samantha Lavine.
In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to memorialhermann.org/donatetirr.
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