Benjamin Lane

Benjamin Forrest Lane, better known as B.F. “Dick” Lane, age 88, of Midland, NC and Caswell Beach, NC passed away Saturday morning, April 13th, 2013. He was born July 13, 1924 in the Zion Community of Marion County, South Carolina. He was the youngest son of Benjamin Franklin Lane and Maggie Thompson Lane. He is preceded in death by wife, Gwen Moore Lane; siblings, Susan Lane Gardner Baggett, Odessa Price Richardson , Armon W. Lane, Daniel Lane, Edith L. McLendon, Johanna Lane Bushey; daughter, Gay Lane Vickery. Surviving children include Richard F. Lane of Charlotte, Walter F. Lane of Oriental, NC, Carol L. Cabirac, of Kenner, LA, Anna Lane Bonham of Mooresville, and Edie-Jo Lane Mabrey of Midland; grandchildren, Chris Lane, Cameron Lane, and Martin Lane, Burch Vickery, Jr., Kimberly Vickery, Daryn Lane, William Bonham Jr., Benjamin Bonham, Bradley Bonham, Johanna Hough and Jordan Hough; great-grandchildren, Jackson Lane, Samuel Lane, Tyler Lane, Greyson Lane, and Andrew Lane. Mr. Lane was born and raised on a farm in rural Marion County, SC. He graduated from Zion High School in 1941 and from Duke University in 1951. Mr. Lane was a WWII Navy Veteran, having joined the Navy Aviation Cadet Corp in 1942 and was commissioned an Ensign in the Active Naval Reserve. He served as a fighter pilot in the South Pacific in 1944 and received four Battle Stars and the Distinguished Flying Cross for acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. He served the Navy from the Aircraft Carrier Fanshaw Bay and participated in the largest sea-battle in history at Leyte Gulf. He continued flying with the Naval Reserve until 1965 when he retired as a Lieutenant Commander. Mr. Lane was also a Mason, raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in 1947, Clinton Lodge No. 60 in Marion, SC, and became a Life Member in 1987. In 1965 he was honored to become a Scottish Rite mason and joined the Scottish Rite Choir, and a KCCH in December, 1993. In 1965 he also became a Shriner and became a Shrine Chanter. He also served by flying children and families to the Shrine Burn Center in Cincinnati. He served as Captain of the Chanters in 1985 and 1986, and was Master of Temple Lodge in 1997, also completing 50 years as a Mason during that period. As a member of United Love Baptist Church in Midland, he served as a teacher, choir member, deacon and trustee. He was also an active member of Oak Island Baptist Church in his retirement years, living at Caswell Beach, NC after the death of his wife in 2004. In 2005, Mr. Lane retired as a Senior Account Executive at Intercarolina Financial Services, Inc., serving the areas of Cabarrus, Rowan and Stanly counties. Mr. Lane also flew charter flights until age 65, having worked for himself through Lane Aviation, and also with Saber Aviation in Charlotte. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m., Monday, April 15, 2013 at Hartsell Funeral Home, 13575 Broadway Avenue, Midland, NC 28107. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 16, at United Love Baptist Church, 11487 Flowe’s Store Road, Midland, NC 28107. Rev. Marvin Tyson will officiate. Burial will follow at 3 p.m., in the Watson Cemetery, Zion School Road, Mullins, SC 29574. Linda Vaughn, a family member, of 2909 Methodist Church Road, Mullins, SC 28574 will serve refreshments to the family and friends after the burial. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 West Faris Street, Greenville, SC 29605, JAARS, P. O. Box 248, Waxhaw, NC 28173, or to United Love Baptist Church, 11487 Flowe’s Store Road, Midland, NC 28107. Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Lane family.