Obituary of Ruth Lavender

Ruth G. Lavender of Columbia, SC passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 24, 2012. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 2 o?clock at Greenlawn Memorial Park Chapel. The Reverend Doctor Eddie Usher will officiate. A private burial will be held at a later date at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Born in March of 1916 in Salinas, Kansas, Mrs. Lavender was the daughter of the late William and Ella Mae Gordon. She was married to the late Charles L. Lavender of Wichita, Kansas and is survived by one son, Colonel (Ret.) E. Chauncey Lavender II (Margaret) of Charleston, S.C. Her grandchildren are: Neal L. Lavender (Tracy) of Dallas, Texas and Lisa L. Brockmeyer (Brad) of Jacksonville, Florida. She has three great-grandchildren: Christopher, Dylan, and Katlyn Lavender. At a young age, Mrs. Lavender and her siblings loss their parents and were sent to the Good Fellows Masonic Orphanage in Manhattan, Kansas where they remained until the age of twenty. She often told interesting stories of her life at the orphanage. In the mid 1950?s and early 60?s, her husband was an advisor to the Walter F Gong Chapter of the Order of DeMolay, (A Masonic Fraternal Organization) in Columbia, S.C. Mr. and Mrs. Lavender were always available to help in setting-up and chaperoning social and ceremonial activities for the DeMolays. Most weekends, they graciously opened their home to many of the young DeMolays and their dates from the various high schools in Columbia. Mrs. Lavender or ?Mom? as she was affectionately called by the young DeMolays, loved to cook and was most often found baking snacks or breakfast for the young people. For several years, Mrs. Lavender worked as an office assistant in a State Farm insurance agency in Columbia. She later worked for many years as an administrative assistant and receptionist for the Governor?s Office of Economic Opportunity from which she retired in the early 1980?s. Due to her upbringing in an orphanage, Mrs. Lavender never met a stranger. She took pride in her sewing, cooking, and baking abilities. She was a person with a generous spirit, who would always prepare enough food to share with co-workers, friends, or even a sick neighbor. She will be missed by many. The family would like to thank the administrative and medical staff of White Oak Manor for the loving care and patience they had in taking care of Mrs. Lavender during the last years of her life. They would also like to pay special recognition and give a heartfelt thanks to her many friends and particularly to: Mr. and Mrs. Phil Brandes , Mrs. Irene Painter, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Whittemore, Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Clark, Mrs. Lucille Johnson and the Johnson family for their many kindnesses that they showed toward Mrs. Lavender during her lifetime. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Epworth Children?s Home, P.O. Box 50466, Columbia, South Carolina, 29204.