Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear Ye! What are you here for? How will you tell your Story!

LaVon A. Postelle, 75, son of the late Addie Postelle Trippley and Leonard Robinson, was born in Chester, PA.

Having accepted the Lord as his personal savior, LaVon joined the membership of the Tabernacle Baptist Church.

LaVon was affectionately known as “New York”, “Potsy”, “Mr. P”, “Kool-Aid”, “Slack 5”, “Poppy” and “The Judge”. He will always be remembered as the Gadgets Man, the Shopaholic and the Traveler.

In holy matrimony, he married the love of his life, the former Paula A. Brown of Steelton, Pennsylvania on June 19, 1982.

Judge Postelle was a member of the Masonic Family: Paxton Lodge #16, Nimrod Consistory #9, Harris Chapter #26, Howard Lennon #17 and Himyar Temple #17. He was also a member of Cyrene Lodge #169 I.B.P.O.E. Of W, The American Legion Ephraim Slaughter Post#733 and The Fraternal Order of Police.

Judge Postelle was a District Magistrate who served over 40 years in public service. After graduating from Chester County High School in 1967, Judge Postelle entered the Armed Services and graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine and U.S. Army basic training courses in 1968.

Judge Postelle graduated from the Philadelphia Police Academy and served as an Urban Police Officer in the City of Chester, PA at which time he was provided real life opportunities for developing insight into the legal system as well as the social problems faced by metropolitan communities. In Chester, Judge Postelle began to use alternative methods and strategies to reduce and resolve conflict among various groups of people that resulted in more peaceful dialogue and resolutions.

In 1975, Judge Postelle graduated from Pennsylvania State Police Academy after which he served on the PA Turnpike as the recruiter for the State Police, Public Information Officer and was entrusted with the personal security detail for past Governors Robert Casey, Mark Single, Thomas Ridge and Lieutenant Governor Mark Schweiker.

After 26 years of service, LaVon Postelle retired from the State Police and became the Dauphin County Court Crier and Bailiff from 2001 to 2003. While working at the Dauphin County Courthouse, he was encouraged to become a judge. LaVon was elected to the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County in 2003 and later served as District Magistrate for Harrisburg’s “Southside”. After retiring as a District Magistrate, he became a Senior Judge until present.

Upon entering his courtroom, he demanded respect, adults as well as students. Appropriate attire was demanded. If they were not appropriately dressed, they would have to schedule another date. He also made parents responsible for their children being truant.

To reach his goal of helping to solve the problems in the inner city, Judge Postelle assisted people in navigating through the judicial system and helped offenders become responsible and productive citizens.

With the “battle fought “and the “Victory Won”, LaVon exchanged his cross for a crown on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at The Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings: Marilyn, Bill, Van, Reginald and Carlos.

Judge LaVon Postelle leaves to cherish fond memories of his life: his faithful, loving and devoted wife, Paula; two sons, Andre Brown (Tiffany) of Delaware and Timothy Brown of Harrisburg, PA; two daughters, Crystal Taylor (Kevin) of Chester, PA and Kendra Postelle (Al) of Delaware; 16 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; Siblings: Vernoda Stillis of Chester, PA, Betty Carter of Texas and Diane Austin Sewell (Vincent) of New Jersey; sisters-in-law, Christine Hamilton of Wallingford, PA, Carol Brown Graves (Lionel) of Harrisburg, PA and Iris Brown of Steelton, PA; close friends: Butch Saunders, Gilbert Brown, Gary Penn, Rick Dean and a host of other relatives and friends.

His life will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023 in the Sanctuary of The First Baptist Church of Steelton, 1850 S. 19th Street, Harrisburg with viewing and visitation from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and burial in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

From The Projects to The Courthouse

Case Closed!!