William Lanham, Jr.

William "Bill" V. Lanham - On December 2, 2005 Bill Lanham, 79, received his call home, slipping quickly and quietly from this world of pain and confusion into the loving arms of his Savior Jesus Christ. Bill was born June 4, 1926 in Decatur, Illinois. He lived in Decatur with his parents and four siblings for much of his early life. In 1942, galvanized by Pearl Harbor, he left school, lied about his age, and with the full support of his parents joined the US Navy. He was just 16 years old. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and came back home to Decatur, working at various jobs until he found his life's true calling - the police department. Bill became a Des Plaines, IL police officer in 1946 and in this arena he flourished for the next 25 years. Health problems forced him to retire in 1971 at the rank of Lieutenant, but the memories of the years he spent on the force stayed with him until the very last days of his life. Following retirement Bill relocated his family to Arizona where he worked at a variety of jobs before joining the Salt River Project in 1978. He retired from SRP ten years later, but quickly found retirement to be unacceptable. He decided to start his own transportation service, and his honesty and his dedication to his clients quickly gained him a core following. Eventually he was blessed with literally more business then he could handle. However, ongoing health concerns and advancing age finally prompted him to retire for good in the mid 1990's. Bill's life was centered on his Christian faith. When he and his family arrived in Arizona they joined Salem Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, and over the years Bill served his Lord there in a number of different positions. At the time of death he and his wife were members of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tempe. Bill is survived by Dolores, his wife of 43 years; sons Curtis Wayne (Nikki) and Jeffrey William; daughters Sharon Denise Roberts (Marty) and Linda Jean Wilson (Adam); honorary son Roger Lynch; grandchildren Luke Lanham, Lauren Wilson, Spencer Wilson, and Robin Hennessey; and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 at 10:30 AM at Salem Lutheran Church. Inurnment will be at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. The family suggests donations to Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Bill's memory. Life-Paths Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

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