RICHARD F. LANE
Died June 8, 2007
Richard Lane, 74, of Conover passed away Saturday at Frye Regional Medical Center.
Richard was born in Hickory, son of the late Charles William Lane and Jennie Ruth Marlowe Lane. Richard grew up on Lenoir-Rhyne Blvd., attending Kenworth Elementary School and later moved to Newton, graduating from Newton-Conover High School. Joining the Air Force in 1950 during the Korean War, he was stationed overseas in Morocco, Thailand, and Guam and stateside in California, Arkansas and North Carolina.
Richard completed Officer Training School after eight years enlisted service, and after flight training, he served as Navigator on B-52 flight crews, logging countless missions during the Vietnam War. After 27 years of decorated service, he retired a Major.
Following retirement from the Air Force, Richard settled in Bethlehem, N.C. and completed his bachelor's degree in accounting from Lenoir-Rhyne College, and then worked 12 years for the Hickory City School system, serving as the Property and Purchasing Officer.
An avid antique bottle collector during the 1970s in Goldsboro, Richard amassed the largest and most complete collection of antique Pepsi-Cola bottles in existence at the time. He was also a dedicated and skilled bridge player for over 40 years, competing at the Master's level. Throughout his life, he pursued many passions including tropical fish, gardening, and gem and mineral collecting.
A member of Trinity United, Richard is pre-deceased by his first wife, Doris Jean Hollar Lane, and his brother Earl Eugene Lane of Miami, Fla.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Lutz Deal Lane; her four daughters; and a son. Also surviving are his three children, Charles Michael Lane of Camp Hill, Pa.; Linda Lane Heavey of Carmichael, Calif.; and Richard F. Lane II, of Charlotte; two sisters, Mary Ruth Schell of Hickory, and Irene E. Cumbee of Charleston, S.C.; an uncle, Paul Lane of Hickory; two aunts, Betty Marlowe Hewitt of Hickory, Mildred Lane Bost of Chesapeake, Va.; and eight beloved grandchildren.
Richard had great compassion for others and personified an honest and steadfast character in all his deeds. A more loving husband, brother, father or friend, you will not find. He was kind and generous to everyone he met and a steady pillar of support to his family.
A service to celebrate his life will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Trinity United Church of Christ in Conover. The family will receive friends from 4 until 5:30 p.m., prior to the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation and the American Diabetes Association.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on June 10, 2007 7:25 AM