George H. Lavin

George H. Lavin was born on May 16, 1927, in San Francisco, CA, to John and Katherine Lavin. He moved to Sonoma as a small child and attended grammar school there. A favorite childhood memory he liked to share was walking across the Golden Gate Bridge during its opening week.

George attended Sonoma Valley Union High School, leaving during his senior year to join the US Navy and fight in World War II. He served aboard a destroyer escort in the Asiatic Pacific. He served on the USS Wingfield, the USS Garfield Thomas and the USS LST 291. At the end of the war, he attended a flag raising ceremony on the Marshall Islands and saw the Japanese troops returning back to Japan.

After discharge from the Navy, he moved to Napa, in 1956, and worked several jobs including opening and managing the local Singer Sewing Machine Company store on Coombs St. He then went to work for the State of California's Department of Transportation on the Carquinez Bridge. He started as a toll taker and worked his way up to Manager of the Paint Department. He retired from the Bridge in 1983.

In retirement, he enjoyed RVing, golfing, cooking, entertaining, gardening and rooting for his favorite sports teams. He was a member of DESA and the Napa Methodist Church. He hit a hole-in-one at the Sebastopol golf course. In 2020, he moved to Redding, CA, to be closer to his stepson Dave, and his sister-in-law, Mary Dunaway.

George passed away on December 17, 2022, in Redding.

He is predeceased by his parents; his brother, Charles Lavin; his son-in-law, Donald Evans; and his grandson, Carson Lavin. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nina "Jo" Lavin; his four children: Terry Lavin (Lili), Jerry Lavin, Mary Evans, and David Mauldin (Heather); his seven grandchildren: Dana Fowers (Mark), Cori Reza (Mike), Scott Mauldin (Carol), Brandon Lavin, Alex Lavin, Cody Lavin (Heather), and Shannon Lavin; along with his 13 great-grandchildren.

George was a loving husband and father and will be greatly missed.

A private family service with military honors was held earlier this month at Tulocay Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Queen of the Valley Foundation, PO Box 2069, Napa, CA, 94558; or a charity of your choice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George H. Lavin, please visit our floral store.