Robert Earl Lane

Robert Earl Lane “Bob”, Class of ‘58, Company 13, passed from this earthly life into the hands of God on September 25, 2023, in Prescott, AZ, at home with his loving wife Jann at his side.

Bob was born in Franklin, TN to Earl Wilson Lane and Frances May Philyaw. He grew up in Walhalla, SC, graduating from Walhalla High School in 1953. He loved sports and excelled. He was on the 1952 Walhalla High School State Championship basketball team and shot the winning basket as a junior. Bob continued his education at Clemson on a basketball championship. After one year he received his much desired commission to the Naval Academy. Bob graduated in aeronautical engineering and continued to flight training at Patuxent River. Bob flew F4s and became a naval test pilot, bringing the first P3 to the Navy from Lockheed Martin, Burbank, CA in July 1962. Bob’s squadron of P3s then monitored Havana Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Bob entered the private business world in 1964, joining Deering Milliken. He worked with owner and old friend, Roger Milliken, in developing “tetra packaging.” Bob later joined Royston Corporation, GA. As President, he focused on the design, manufacturing and installation of interiors of ships and expanded Royston to other modular industries. Bob retired in 1987. In the early 90’s Bob could not play another round of golf and began consulting with corporations to better market their products, This work included a variety of companies including McDonalds, GTE Corp., and Circle K.

Bob and Jann lived a full, loving, adventurous, God-centered life together. They lived in Laguna Beach, CA and Breckinridge CO for the first 25 years of their marriage. While managing their two very different but successful consulting businesses they enjoyed traveling to the far reaches of the world, whenever they could. Bob, Jann and Raquel Simone moved to the highlands of central Arizona to Prescott, in 2019. Bob loved people and loved helping them gain the successes in their work that he experienced in his.

Bob is survived by his wife, Dr. Jann Mackenzie Steel Lane; his Medical Alert Dog, Raquel Simone, a 6 year old Sealyham terrier; his three sons, Buck, Scott and Chris of South Carolina; one sister Barbara Dixon, of GA; four grandchildren and one great grandson.

Bob will be interred at Prescott National Cemetery on November 2, 2023, surrounded by family and friends, all whom he loved, beyond.