Avis May Van Atta, age 93, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed away peacefully with her children at her side on June 12, 2023. She was born to Knapp and Nelly (Lindhout) Lamphear on November 23, 1929.

Avis was born the youngest of three children and grew up in Ada, Michigan, where she graduated from Lowell Public Schools. She went on to graduate from beauty school to become a beautician. She later became a parapro at Shawnee Park Elementary School, working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Avis was happily married to the love of her life, Robert Edward Van Atta on August 8, 1949 for 44 years.  Together they had one son and three daughters.  She enjoyed gardening, giving her daughters perms, listening to her husband play the banjo, boat rides, and living on Campau Lake.

Avis was preceded in death by her loving husband Robert Edward Van Atta (Banjo Bob), parents Knapp and Nelly Lamphear, father and mother-in-laws Edward and Darlene Van Atta, sister and brother-in-law Gladys and Carroll Tuttle, brother and sister- in-law Rollin and Irene Lamphear, and recently her beloved son James Robert Van Atta.

Avis is survived by her three loving daughters: Diane (John) Zbikowski, Betty (Gary) Wells, and Nancy (Mike) Ozinga. She has 13 amazing grandchildren: Lesley (Theo) Stephens, Brett Van Atta, Collin Van Atta, Shawn Van Atta, Stacy Zbikowski, Julie (Joey) Weber, Sara (Jordan) Smith, Rebecca (Jesse) Richardson, Brian (Katy) Wells, Jennifer Gary, Amy (Edward) Craig, Christopher Ozinga, Heather Ozinga, Matthew (Karen) Ozinga, and Daniel (Nichole) Ozinga.  She also has 22 great-grandchildren: Jada, Lincoln, Kingston, Cataleya, Joey Jr., Amelia, Chase, Caroline, Noah, Holden, Nolan, Paris, Kensington, Aria, Alyssa, Aidan, Addison, Benjamin, Cameron, Logan, Emily, and Brady.

We would like to express our gratitude for the loving care and compassion from the staff at Grand Brook Memory Care Center and the Care Team from Care Line Hospice. We will always remember the wonderful love, care and kindness you gave our mother.

The Celebration of life service for Avis will be at 11:00am on Saturday, June 17th, at Ofield Funeral Home (4500 Kalamazoo Avenue, Kentwood, MI), with Pastor Chuck Roost officiating.  There will be one hour of visitation prior to the funeral service, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am and funeral service immediately following.  After the service, a light luncheon in celebration of Avis' life will be at the funeral home.

Those wishing to offer expressions of sympathy are encouraged to make a memorial contribution to the Alzheimer's Association at 4081 Cascade Road SE Suite 400, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 or Grand Brook Memory Care at 5281 Wilson Ave. Wyoming, MI 49418.