Vernon C. Lay

Vernon Carlton Lay, 85 of St. Joseph, passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2009 at Caretel Inns of St. Joseph. A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 27, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 619 Market St., St. Joseph, MI. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery with Military Rites. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 26, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Vernon was born on March 4, 1924 in Benton Harbor, MI to Palmer and Mary (Green) Lay. Vernon later married Agnes Kaatz on October 3, 1942 in St. Joseph, MI. He worked as a tool grinder for most of his life between three companies, Saranac, Whirlpool and Benton Harbor Engineering. Vernon served his country in the Army Air Corp stationed in India flying the hump from China to Burma to India during World War II. Vernon is survived by his wife, Agnes, two sons, Richard (Rebecca) Lay of Goshen, IN and Donald Lay of St. Joseph, MI and a daughter, Dianne (Vincent) Fernan of St. Joseph, MI. He is also survived by six grandchildren, three great grandchildren and a sister, Delores Smith of Coloma, MI. Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, Palmer and Mary, a daughter, Dorothy Schott, a brother, Kenneth Lay and two sisters, Irene Lesch and Letha Molter. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. As expressions of sympathy, memorial contributions may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church or Lutheran Bible Translators.