Lamar Wadsworth Lane Sr.

A Going Home Celebration for Lamar Wadsworth Lane, Sr., will be held 3:00 PM, Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at First Baptist Church in Rayville with Dr. David Lane officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM until the time of service at the church. Mr. Mason Lane will lead the music accompanied by fellow grandchildren. Interment will be held following the service at Rayville Masonic Cemetery with military honors and Dr. Eddie Wren officiating, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Rayville.Lamar Wadsworth Lane, Sr. was born July 3, 1920, in McComb, Mississippi, the third and youngest child of Jesse William Lane and Florence Wilson Lane. From his parents he learned a respect for all persons, faith in God, and the value of a job well done. His father, a locomotive engineer, inspired Lamar’s lifelong work ethic. His mother led him to Christ as a boy and throughout his 95 years he sought to honor and please his parents and his Savior.After graduating from Jackson Central High School in 1938, Lamar began a promising career with Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. Lamar resigned his career following the December 7th attack on Pearl Harbor and volunteered into the U. S. Army Air Corp, on December 16, 1941. During the war years he rose to rank of Staff Sargent, serving as Drill Instructor, Insurance Liaison, and Chief Clerk in Headquarters for the 466th Bombardment Group of the Mighty Eighth Air Force based at Attlebridge, England. Each day, Lamar personally compiled the names associated with the terrible loss rates for American bomber crews of the 466th as well as the strength report for the entire base population of over 9,000 men. Lamar recalled the horrors of crash landings, bombed out British and German cities, homeless civilians, readiness for Nazi infiltration, Nazi strafing, V1 and V2 attacks. 1,000 plane allied raids, burial details, and the tragic emotional traumas of returning flight crews. Lamar personally compiled the names of more than 15,000 combined troops from the captain’s bridge of the HMS Queen Mary while crossing the Nazi submarine infested Atlantic. While in England, Lamar was a member of the 466th boxing team and became the novice champion of Station 130. Following the surrender of Germany, Lamar was preparing to be shipped out to the South Pacific for the invasion of Japan when the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima ended World War II. Lamar was honorably discharged September 19, 1945, and three days later enrolled into Ole Miss on the G I Bill, graduating Ole Miss Pharmacy School in 1949.Lamar met Gladys Diamond on a “blind date” arranged by mutual friend Bettie Jo Jones (Franklin). Lamar and Gladys were married six months later. Gladys told him she always wanted 13 children but since they got a late start at 28 and 32, she would settle for 10. Lamar simply said “children are a gift from the Lord, I want as many as the Lord sees fit to give us.” During their fifty year marriage great memories were made with their six children. Nearly 50 years of Lamar’s life was spent at Lanes Drug Store where he taught each of his children many lessons of life, and the common needs of all manner of people and the value of the human struggle. Lamar summoned all his experiences for the service of his fellow man as a pharmacist in Rayville. He considered this his ministry as well as a means of provision for his family. Lamar retired at the age of 78 and with Gladys, as they lovingly entertained broods of grandchildren. Just months after the death of his beloved Gladys, Lamar encountered the love and care of another wonderful woman……his new daughter-in-law, Jennifer Worley Lane. Being of kindred and gentle spirit, Lamar and Jennifer bonded immediately. Dan and Jennifer and Lamar were a family for the next 11 years in their country home in Rayville. The escapades of his three new grandsons throughout these twilight years were reminiscent of his own children and brought everyone such joy. Jennifer cared for him as a mother cares for one of her own and for this, her devotion can never be measured.Lamar was a member of many organizations during his life: Eagle Scout, Red Cross Lifeguard, WWII Veteran, Ole Miss Alum, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Registered Pharmacist, Fifth District Pharmacy Officer, 32nd Degree Mason, VFW, American Legion, and Ordained Deacon. But the most treasured aspects of his long life have been his marriage to his wonderful Gladys and being a father to their dearly loved children, and a “Granddad” and “Poppy” to 21 grandchildren and one great granddaughter.Lamar is preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Gladys Diamond Lane; his parents; his brother, Jesse; sister, Frances; and half-sister, Ethel Mae; as well as numerous other family, in-laws, and dear friends.Survivors include his sisters-in-law, Helen Diamond and Bette Diamond; his six children and their spouses, Miriam Lane Davey and Rex, Lamar Wadsworth Lane, Jr. and Heather, Matthew Wilson Lane and Beverly, Andrew Durham Lane and Melinda, David Mark Lane and Lea Anne, and DanielDiamond Lane and Jennifer; his twenty-one grandchildren; Lane Davey, Helen Davey, TreyLane and Brittany, Katherine Lane Deitzway and David, Ellie Lane, Macey Epp, Luke Lane, Ben Lane, Laura Lane, Hannah Lane, Leah Lane, Drew Lane, Rachel Lane, Mark Lane and Catherine, Marybeth Lane, Melanie Lane, Madison Lane, Mason Lane, Daniel Lane, Isaac Lane, Noah Lane; and one great granddaughter, Eloise Lane. Other survivors include numerous nieces, nephews and relatives, (The Diamonds, The Kozels, The Lanes, The Crouts, The Pinkstons, The Durhams, The Russells, The Worleys and many others); and of course his special friend, Doris Hubbard; and many former employees including “Miss Geneva” Adcox.The Family of Lamar Lane, Sr., expresses tremendous appreciation to so many persons that have made his most golden years so wonderful. Thank you to his church family at First Baptist Church Rayville; to his sitters, Henrietta Dorsey, Jackie Hayes, Janice Hayes, Huey McDowell, Vera White, Louis Higgins and Evelyn Banks; to his doctors and their respective staffs, Kevin Carlisle, Roland Ponarski, Davis Thompson, James Eppinette, Jean Germany, everyone at Richardson Medical Center, Jeff Counts, K C Sirmon, Dr. Crooks, Glenwood Hospital; to his friends; to Richland Council of Aging for your many hours of devotion and enrichment (he loved “The Council”); and to all his friends near and far and a community whose prayers and gestures of assistance have made his last years so rewarding to him and his family. A most sincere, “Thank you”.Pallbearers will be his five sons and son-in-law. Honorary pallbearers are Lasley Thomason, Tom Allen, Todd Morris, Wendell Shoemaker, Russell Shoemaker, Elvin Hayes, Brother Robert Stroud, and Perry Ellington.In lieu of flowers please make memorials to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.comMulhearn Funeral HomeRayville, LA