John Reib Lane's Obituary
“Johnny” was the youngest child, and second son, born to Frank and Margaret Lane of Dallas, TX. His older sister, Francis Lane Ward, was a successful business woman who had her pilot’s license, owned and managed Fran’s Café downtown, and a beauty college, while John and his older brother, Charles (“Buddy”) worked at Lane Plating Works with their Dad. Immediately upon graduation from Crozier Tech High School, John & his best friend, Joe O’Connell, enlisted in the Navy to help end WWII in the South Pacific. He wrangled special privileges as “ship’s photographer” on the troop transport SS Cape Johnson. After discharge from the Navy in 1951, he went back to work as a machinist, “hard-chrome” plater, and sometime inventor. Smitten by the beautiful green-eyed actress & drama student at SMU, Geana Williams, they married in 1952 and had their daughter, Johna, in August of ‘54, followed by sons Frank, in ‘55, and Joe in ‘56. Sometime during all this, John completed his pilot’s license and became a 32nd degree Mason and was a lifelong member of Pentagon Lodge. His marriage withered under the social turmoil of the ‘60s ending in divorce, and several years later, he married Sandra Daniels with whom he lived happily until she passed away in 2014. Life alone in the farmhouse outside Corsicana became too much for him to keep up with after he suffered a small stroke in 2015. He moved back to Dallas and lived the rest of his days within close proximity to his adult children where he could more easily participate in family activities. He passed away peacefully in his sleep, Sunday morning, August 22nd, 2021. He is survived by his adult children, Johna Allen, Frank Lane, and Joe & Vickie Lane; Grandchildren Ashley & Taylor Wimberly, Joe & Lauren Lane, Amie & Kyle Karnes, Danielle & Andrew Masters, Noah & Haley Allen, and Gabriel Allen and nine ( 3 “in the oven!”)Great-grandchildren, all of which knew him as “Gramps”. John R. Lane will be forever in our hearts & memories for his loving nature and undying sense of humor- he was the consummate joker! Due to the surging COVID pandemic, John will be laid to rest, next to his beloved Sandra, in the Garden of Compassion at Restland cemetery in a brief graveside ceremony, in Dallas, TX, at 10:00 AM, Monday, August 30th,2021. There will be a joyful celebration of his life in a memorial service (to be announced) when it is safe for people to gather together again.
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