LaVona was born on June 28, 1924 in Terrell, Texas the daughter of George Everett and Hazel (Davis) Belew. She graduated from Abilene High School in 1941 and attended Gail Business College in Abilene. She met Huntington native Leo F. Petrie while he was stationed at Camp Barkeley in Abilene. They married on January 5, 1946 in Abilene and soon after, moved to Huntington where she lived for the remainder of her life. Her husband preceded her in death on December 23, 1999. LaVona retired in 1980 from Indiana Bell Telephone after 25 years of service. For the next seven years, she worked as a teacher’s aide at Central School in Huntington. LaVona was a volunteer for the Parkview Huntington Hospital’s gift shop and served on the board of the hospital guild. She loved to play Euchre and belonged to many Euchre clubs through the years.
She is survived by daughters Lynda VanKirk of Indianapolis and Lou Anne (Wayne) Hanna of Pewaukee, Wisconsin; grandsons Andrew Hanna of Kissimmee, Florida and Alec Hanna of Chicago, Illinois; a sister, Darlene (Bob) Smith of Haskell, Texas; a nephew, Michael (Monica) Smith of Killeen, Texas; a special friend, Harold Harter of Huntington, and granddogs Igraine and Cubbie. Her parents and husband precede her in death.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Thursday, January 11, 2018 at Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington, Indiana, 46750. Funeral services will immediately follow at 12 p.m. Thursday at Bailey-Love Mortuary with Dr. Sam Young officiating. Private burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Huntington.
Preferred memorials are to Parkview Huntington Hospital Guild, in care of Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington, Indiana, 46750.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of LaVona B. Petrie please visit our Sympathy Store.