Extracted from The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, VA)
MEYBIN, LAVINIA HARVEY
Lavinia Harvey Meybin, 105, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great and great-great grandmother and aunt of Roanoke, Virginia, died on Thursday, June 10, 2004 at her long-time residence on Wycliffe Avenue.
She was born December 15, 1898 in West Blocton, Alabama. Lavinia was a graduate of Montevallo College in Montevallo, Alabama, attended Columbia University in New York and took an extension course at the University of Georgia. Lavinia was also a graduate of the world renowned Le Cordon Bleu, the cooking school in Paris, France in 1932. She loved to cook and each meal was an exquisite experience.
Lavinia taught chemistry, domestic science and art for several years at Washington Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. She was a frequent traveler to the various European countries and also visited Egypt and the Far East. She was a Christian member of the Second Presbyterian Church for 68 years.
The family appreciated the many visits from the church over the past few years. Lavinia loved the many flowers from the church as well as the taped services that were given to her on a weekly basis. Special thanks to Rev. Dr. George Anderson and the associate pastor, Gerald Carter; who made frequent visits to Lavinia.
Over the past 9 years, Lavinia listened to 906 books and had zero memory loss and could remember all relatives' names and birthdays. Lavinia could remember the plots and names of characters in books she had read years ago and all were constantly amazed at Lavinia being able to solve the daily anagrams in seconds. No matter how many letters, Lavinia seemed to instantly see the various words.
She loved her weekly bridge games and was an active player just prior to her 100th birthday. She simply outlived her bridge friends. A 100th birthday party was held at the Hotel Roanoke where 200 relatives and friends came from all parts of the country to celebrate that special day.
Lavinia was fortunate in having the First Union Bank (Wachovia) to manage her Trust for 49 years. Their careful and conservative investments allowed Lavinia to live a life where she had no financial problems. There were frequent visits to Lavinia from members of the Trust Department over the years and their service was simply above and beyond the call of duty. Whereas, some Trust Departments might be cold and impersonal, they were looked on as a member of the family. Special thanks to Nelson Hancock and Rheba Donahue. Rheba made many trips to Lavinia where various adjustments to her affairs were made over the years and her special kindness was much appreciated. Also to be remembered is Louise ``Perky'' Easley Wirsing, now deceased, from the Trust Department who took a special interest in Lavinia.
Lavinia was the hostess of many a function at the Greenbrier where she helped entertain dignitaries from around the world and was also selected to christen a battleship in WWII. She was a collateral descent of Meriwether Lewis and was a direct descendent of Brigadier General George Mathews, who fought in the Revolutionary War under George Washington.
Lavinia was a special person to all whose lives she touched, truly an angel who will now be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Lavinia loved everything and everybody and there was never a mean thought that passed her lips. She will be sorely missed by all those lives she touched. Lavinia, you were the greatest and you will be number one in our hearts forever.
Lavinia was preceded in death by her husband, Robert J. Meybin, on June 15, 1956. Rob was a Roanoke resident for 38 years, having a major role in the management of one of the City's leading industries, The Virginia Bridge Company, which was later American Bridge, Division of United States Steel, and retired as Vice-President of the company in 1946. Also preceding her in death were two children, Robert J. Meybin, Jr., and Margaret Meybin Bonwell and her beloved sisters, Leonora Harvey and Mary Meriwether Harvey Hamff and brothers, Leonard Pratt Harvey, Dr. Frank Newton Harvey and William Reese Harvey.
She is survived by 6 grandchildren, Tanis Rosinski of Pittsburgh, Pa., Barbara Jane Swain of Tokyo, Japan, Charles Meybin of Erie, Pa., Robert J. Meybin, III of Richmond, Va., Raymond E. Bonwell, III of Toms River, N.J., Robert A. Bonwell of Charleston, W.Va.
Lavinia loved to talk on the phone and still answered it until the day of her death. There were frequent calls and visits over the years by her nephews, Les Whitten of Silver Spring, Md., Stanley Whitten of Chicago, Ill., Harvey Whitten of Montclare, Pa., and she treasured calls from her niece and namesake, Lavinia Kubiak of Atlantic Beach, Fla.
Special thanks to Lavinia's devoted and loving caregivers, Ruth Sweet, Gloria Tuck, Jean Brookman, Paulette Phillips, Minnie Jones, Bertha Berger, Liz Lilly, Marie Vencill, Eloise Bowman, David Loomis, Brenda King and Billie Louthian, all of Roanoke.
A service celebrating her life will be held at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel, Saturday, June 19, 12:00 noon with Mr. L. Gerald Carter officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Burial Park.
The family will receive friends Friday, 6:30 8:30 p.m. and 1 hour prior to the funeral service at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel, 982-2100. The family will look forward to having refreshments with Lavinia's friends from 1:30 to 4:30 on Saturday at her home at 2810 Wycliffe Avenue.
Thursday, June 17, 2004