Bishop LaVerne Easton, age 90, of Mishawaka, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013. Bishop Easton was born October 10, 1923 to the late George Sr. and Della (Ward) Easton in Hymera, Indiana. He married Jean Hillebrand on April 19, 1942 in Jasonville, Indiana. Their love lasted 71 years. Shortly after they married, LaVerne was drafted into the US Army, where he was stationed in Hawaii during WWII.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Easton of Mishawaka, and their daughters, Verna Jean (H. Ray) Davis of Granger, and Lisa Michele Easton of Mesa, Arizona. Bishop Easton is also survived by his granddaughter, Lori Davis and his great grandsons, Cody and TJ Owsianowski, all of Granger. Surviving as well are his siblings, Kenneth (Norma) Easton of Mishawaka, Barbara (Clyde) Carr of Galien, Michigan and his sister-in-law Jean Easton of Mishawaka. He was preceded in death by his son Michael Gale Easton, and his siblings Leland Easton, George Easton Jr. and Violetta Hillenbrand.
Visitation will be held from 4-8 pm Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Osceola. Funeral services will be held at Noon on Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 at the Ireland Road Church of God, 16555 Ireland Road, Mishawaka, Indiana 46544. Interment and military honors will follow in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park in Granger.
LaVerne spent many years in the ministry, serving as Pastor at the Church of God in Hammond, Indiana from 1952-1958, the Milburn Blvd. Church of God in Mishawaka from 1958-1960, and the Salisbury Maryland Church of God from 1960-1962. He then returned to the Church in Hammond from 1962-1989 when he retired. He served several terms with the Church of God State Council during his ministry. While retired, LaVerne stayed active with prison ministry and traveling ministry where he would fill in for ministers as they were away, and publishing the SALT Ministry Senior Newsletter for over 10 years. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, gardening, and working with his horses.
In his memory, donations may be made to the Retired Ministers Association Fund through the Church of God.