George Lavinder

George Ballard Lavinder, Jr 83, of Martinsville and Danville, VA died March 13, 2016, after a short illness. He was born on November 7, 1932 in Danville, VA to the late George Ballard Lavinder, Sr. and Annie L. Travis Lavinder.   He grew up in Danville, VA and graduated from George Washington High School in 1953.  He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1953 to 1957 and was stationed at Paris Island where he obtained the rank of Drill Sergeant responsible for training new marines as part of their boot camp.  After graduation he married the love of his life, Elva Barrow Beckham in August 1959 and was married to her for 53 years, until her death in 2013. Together they lived in Richmond, VA for 10 years followed by 43 years in Martinsville, VA.  George was a member at the First United Methodist Church in Martinsville, The Exchange Club of Martinsville and the Martinsville High School Touchdown Club. George’ greatest joy was Elva and their time together, including drives on the Blue Ridge Parkway, trips to Sapphire Valley, NC, Myrtle Beach, SC and Mountain Lake. He is survived by his two sons, Brian Lavinder of Danville, VA and Steven Lavinder and his wife Amy, of Roswell, GA, a grandson James Steven Lavinder and a granddaughter Victoria Lavinder Ramsey both also of Roswell, GA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either of the following: Alzheimer’s Association   Central and Western Virginia Chapter 1160 Pepsi Place, Suite 306 Charlottesville, VA   22901  www.alz.org/cwva/   Ferrum College Office of Development – Beckham Endowment P.O. Box 1000 Ferrum, VA 24088  www.ferrum.edu/ Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 12:00 P.M. from Townes Memorial Chapel with the Reverend Keith Ritchie officiating. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery with military honors being presented by the American Legion Dan River Post #1097 and the United States Marine Corps Honor Guard. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from 10:30 to 11:30 A.M. at Townes Funeral Home. Townes Funeral Home and Crematory, 215 West Main Street is serving the Lavinder family.