Jay Lawrence Lavender of Winona Lake, Indiana went home to be with his Lord and Savior at 3:26 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at the age of 64.

Jay has been a resident of Kosciusko County, Indiana for the past 32 years, and was an attorney with Lavender & Bauer, P.C. of Warsaw, Indiana for the past 28 years. He was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1982; he 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, Indiana from 1982-1988 and the Chief Trial Deputy for the Prosecuting Attorney's Office in Kosciusko County, Indiana from 1983-1988.

He received his B.A. in 1971 from Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. Jay then received his J.D. in 1981 from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. He was a member of Delta Theta Phi Fraternity, member of the Kosciusko County, Indiana State and American Bar Associations; Indiana Trial Lawyers Association; and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Jay taught Criminal Law at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana from 1983 until his passing, and he was the girls varsity basketball coach at Lakeland Christian Academy for 10 years. Jay’s greatest love was for the Lord and his family.

He was born in Wellston, Ohio on January 21, 1949 to the late Albert Jack Lavender and Alma Edith (Davis) Lavender who survives in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was married on May 27, 1972 in Cincinnati to Joy Annette Landis, who survives in Winona Lake, Indiana.

He will be lovingly remembered by his son Derek Lavender (Indianapolis, Indiana); daughter Courtney (husband Caleb) France (Winona Lake, Indiana); and his grandson Tennyson France.Also surviving are two sisters both of Cincinnati, Ohio: Claire (husband Rick) Conley; and Jackie (husband Kevin) Landis.

He was preceded in death by his father, and daughter: Kelli Joy Lavender, who passed away in 1985.

There will be a come and go Celebration of Life Luncheon on Saturday, February 2, 2013 from 11:00 -12:30 p.m. at Grace College Gordon Recreation Center on Kings Highway in Winona Lake, Indiana. A memorial service will be conducted there at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 2, 2013 and officiated by Pastor Denny Wilson.

A private family visitation followed by a public graveside service will be conducted on Saturday, February 2, 2013 with burial at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw, Indiana. The procession will leave at 3:15 p.m. from Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana.

Memorial donations in Jay’s memory may be directed to Lakeland Christian Academy, 1093 South 250 East, Winona Lake, Indiana 46590 and would be appreciated by his family.