William Lanham (Lebanon)'s Obituary
William Leonard Lanham, son of Leonard C. and Laura R. Wheatley Lanham, was born March 8, 1929, in Washington, D.C. He departed this life Saturday, June 4, 2011, in his home, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-two years, two months, and twenty-six days.
On September 5, 1981, he was united in marriage to Lottie Mae Burton, and they shared the last twenty-nine years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Helen Brown, and an infant.
William is survived by his wife, Lottie, of the home; a son, Leonard Lanham, and his wife, Teresa, of Brea, California; two daughters, Peggy Smith, and her husband, Rick, of Rogue River, Oregon, and Patti Lanham, of Cypress, California; a stepson, William Sweat, of Lebanon, Missouri; three granddaughters; three grandsons; one great-granddaughter; a sister, Juanita Hardesty, of Hughesville, Maryland; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. He then lived in Virginia for a time and took training as a pipe fitter. He entered the military on January 4, 1952, and served his country faithfully in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on May 31, 1953. In 1962, he moved to Orange County, California where he worked as a pipe fitter until retiring in 1992. For the last several years, he and Lottie had made their home in Lebanon, Missouri.
William had a strong belief in God and followed the Baptist faith throughout the years.
He belonged to the Local Plumbers and Steam Fitters Union # 582 in California for many years. In his spare time he loved to travel and had visited almost every state in the Union and also Canada and Mexico. He and Lottie enjoyed making trips in their recreational vehicle for several years, and also liked to go square dancing. He enjoyed being outdoors and particularly liked camping and fishing. He had even taken a troop of Brownies on a camping trip when his daughters were little.
William was Lottie’s best friend, and was an exceptional father to his children. He was also a loving grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and know that he will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all of his family and friends.
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