Earl O. Lane, age 77, longtime resident of South Whidbey, died peacefully on Sunday, June 10, 2012 after an extended illness.
Mr. Lane was born in Philadelphia, Penn., on April 10, 1935. His family moved to Seattle when he was ten years old. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Seattle in 1953. In January, 1955 Earl joined the US Air Force and served his country for 23 1/2 years, attaining the rank of CMSgt. He was stationed at various bases in Washington, California and Alaska. He also did a tour in Thailand during the Vietnam War. After retiring from the Air Force, he and his family remained in Alaska for an extra year and then settled on South Whidbey, in 1979. He managed the boat launch at Bush Point for a couple of years and then returned to the aerospace industry at Boeing. He is a retired Batallion Chief of the Bush Point Fire Station. He was a patient teacher and mentor to many young men and women he worked with.
Earl married Beverly Shanrock on Jan. 6, 1957. Together they raised a family and traveled with their children extensively and supported every activity they were involved in. When they had grandchildren, they followed their activities with the same care and passion. He is survived by his loving wife, Beverly; his children and their spouses, Cheryl and Larry Hardie, Nanette and David Streubel, and Terry and CJ Lane; by his grandchildren, Marc and Alex Hardie, Amanda and Nicholas Streubel and Lindsey and Casey Lane; his beloved chocolate lab, Sassy; and by various nieces and nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Earl and Edith Lane; his brother, James Lane, and his son, Earl Richard Lane.
Earl loved the outdoors. Camping, hunting and fishing were an integral part of his time in Alaska. He loved to fish for pike at Lake Minchumina, as well as Copper River Salmon in Chitina. He also had his light aircraft license and loved to fly to places you could not get to by car.
Services will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent on Thursday, Aug. 16, at 1:15 p.m. There will also be a memorial barbecue held at the Greenbank Progressive Club in Greenbank on Saturday, Aug. 18, at 1 p.m. Please come join us and feel free to share stories you may have about Earl with the family. Earl will be missed, not only by his family, but by his countless friends!
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Jody, Kevin and Mary-Ann Bailey of Cottage by the Cove Adult Family Home for their loving care of Earl; and also to the nurses at Whidbey General Home Health Care and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be sent to WAIF, PO Box 1108, Coupeville, WA 98239.
