Milt Lennox, Original Co-Owner of The Apartment Lounge, Dies

Milt Lennox, the former co-owner of The Apartment Lounge in Grand Rapids has died.

Milt passed away Tuesday following several bouts with Pneumonia. He also suffered from C.O.P.D.

Lennox, along with his long time partner Ed Ladner, owned the Apartment Lounge for 40 years. The couple sold it three years ago to the current owner and close friend Bob Johnson (known to friends and patrons as Bobby J).

Milt and Ed had been together for 51 years. And while Lennox did smoke at one time it had been decades since his last cigarette. It's assumed his C.O.P.D. was caused by years of working in a smoke-filled bar.

The Apartment Lounge is considered the state's oldest continually operating LGBT bar.

A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 8, at Arsulowicz Brothers Funeral home on Stocking Ave. The service will be from 1-3 p.m., and will be followed by a gathering at the Apartment Lounge where people can share their memories of the man many referred to as "Big Gurl".

On Facebook, Johnson said, "In true Milt fashion when we were together at the hospital on Friday he told me that he wanted to make sure that I knew what he wanted and he did not want a funeral. He wants a memorial service with brightly colored tablecloths and smiles and a big party everywhere." So, that's what there will be.

Milt Lennox was 81 years old.