Edgar Allen Lantz

Delta Township (formerly of Okemos)

Age 97, passed away October 17, 2012.

A quiet man. A humble man. An honorable man. A man who didn't like to draw attention to himself. This was our father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Edgar was born July 6, 1915 in Greenwood County, Kansas, the third of six children of Elmer and Rosa (Johnson) Lantz. His family moved to Stigler, Oklahoma when he was three. While in high school, Ed took correspondence courses in radio electronics, preparing him for his future career. After graduating from Stigler High School in 1933, he traveled north with a friend to attend the University of Michigan for one semester before finding a job in Ann Arbor.

Ed worked for Stofflet's Radio for six years, selling and repairing radios. In June 1940 he took a job with Wedemeyer Radio Company (later known as Wedemeyer Electronic Supply Co.) While traveling on company business, Ed was in an automobile accident. He rehabilitated at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor and there he met a nurse-in-training named Rhea Belle Close. Their first date was at Detroit's Briggs Stadium at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull at a Tigers baseball game. Ed and Rhea were married September 30, 1941, just weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Married 61years, Ed remained devoted to his sweetheart and wife until the end of his life.

In June 1942, Ed's electronics experience landed him a civilian position in the Army Signal Corps in Fort Monmouth, NJ. Upon the birth of his son, Edgar Jr., in September 1942, he immediately put in for a transfer and was back at a Detroit Signal Corps lab facility before Rhea was out of the hospital.

In1943, a month after resigning from the Signal Corps, he was promptly drafted into the Army. He spent much of his military service in Illinois and Florida developing and testing radar systems for aircraft instrument landings and researching methods to suppress electric waves emitted by vehicle ignitions in order to prevent enemy detection.

After the war, Ed returned as manager at Wedemeyer's Lansing store. At that time the store was located on Cedar Street, across from what is now 3rd base in the Lansing Lugnuts' Cooley Park. Ed and Rhea had two more children, Bonnie May (deceased) and Dainele Lois (pronounced Daynell).

After Ed and Rhea retired in the early 80’s they bought a travel trailer and spent many happy years traveling the United States and wintering in Arizona. Ed had a quiet enthusiasm for life. He spent many years researching his German/Mennonite genealogy. He loved geography and poring over maps; enjoyed keeping up with current events and politics. Even though they had roots in Ann Arbor, he and Rhea shared a love of MSU sports, especially women's basketball, attending games for many years. With Rhea he enjoyed golf and bridge and traveled to Greece and Jamaica. In 1989 Edgar Jr. took Ed and Rhea on a month-long European trip, one of the great thrills of their lives. Though he didn't easily express it, he was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchild.

Ed moved from Okemos to Delta Retirement Center on the west side of Lansing in February, 2004 and lived there until his death.

He is survived by his son, Edgar Allen, Jr. (wife Elisa) of Calistoga, CA; daughter Dainele Rose (husband Ron) of Delta Township, MI; five grandchildren, Rebecca Leigh Bunting (husband Craig Pacelli), Doylestown, PA; Cynthia Rhea Lantz, Lima, Peru; Edgar Allen Lantz III (affectionately referred to by Grandpa as E3,) Samuel Osiel Lantz and Jacob Israel Lantz all of Calistoga, CA; one great-granddaughter, Sunniva Rae Pacelli; son-in-law Paul Bennett and wife Carol Herndon of Bethesda, Maryland. He is also survived by one brother, Cecil Lantz of Belton, TX and one sister, Ila May Whinery of Claremore, OK; Rhea’s sister Elsie Roberts and her brothers Karl, Ward and Howard Close and many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. He was predeceased by his brother Wayne and sisters Fern Smith and Lois Lantz; by Rhea’s brother John Close; by his daughter Bonnie Bunting in 2002 and by his wife Rhea in 2003.

We thought he might wait to leave until he saw if his Detroit Tigers would make it to the World Series. We're sure he is happy to know the Tigers knocked the “Yanks” out in four games straight.

In a condolence card to the family, Rhonda from the Delta Retirement kitchen said "I loved him because his heart was full of joy and happiness!"

We don't know how we'll get by without you daddy. Your even temperament and your kind and helpful nature will always be part of our treasured memories.

Thank you to the staff and caregivers at Delta Retirement Center and at Hospice Advantage for all the kindness and care you showed to Ed.

Ed’s ashes will be placed with Rhea’s in the memorial garden at Edgewood United Church. There is no service planned at this time.