Lansing G. Brisbin Jr.

on Sunday, January 01, 2023.

The son of Lansing G. and Martha Russell Brisbin, Lany was born on November 07, 1926, in Ashland,

Kentucky. He spent his youth in Ashland until the family moved to Huntington, West Virginia to establish

the Royal Crown Bottling Company. He attended Huntington High School eventually graduating from New

Mexico Military Institute in 1944. After completing a semester at Dartmouth College, Lany joined the

United States Marine Corps completing basic training at Paris Island. He enrolled in the Corps' intensive

Japanese language school and was trained to interpret the language and negotiate with the adversary

under battlefield conditions. After WWII, he resumed his studies at Dartmouth, graduating in 1948, with a

degree in History and International Relations. The world was calling, but love intervened. While in college,

Lany met the love of his life, Joan Metzger of Buffalo, NY, who was attending Middlebury College. Joan

and Lany were married on September 10, 1949, and settled in Huntington, WV where Lany worked

alongside his father in the family soft-drink business until its sale in 1986.

While successful in business, it did not define him. He was the quintessential 'Rennaissance Man" with

many interests and pursuits. He was a natural athlete and excelled at multiple sports including skiing,

football, baseball, badminton, golf, polo, and many others but his lifelong passion was tennis. He competed

in many tournaments throughout his life becoming the WV State singles champion in 1964. He achieved a

certain degree of success throughout the country in the following years. He represented WV in the Senior

Olympics and participated in many other USTA-sanctioned tournaments in both singles and doubles

winning his last singles title at age 90. Whenever possible, tennis was part of Joan and Lany's daily

routine. He didn't just play. He was the coach of Marshall University's men's team and a mentor and

teacher to many players, young and old, and a driving force behind the growth of tennis in the local

community.

Lany loved the outdoors and could often be found exploring, hiking, and white water canoeing, not only in

the local tri-state area but anywhere nature called. While at Dartmouth College, he received training in

Archaeology that instilled in him an inquisitiveness in the discipline culminating in his discovery of the

ceremonial stone structure Serpent Mound in Catlettsburg, KY, constructed by the indigenous people of

the area. He was president of the Cabell-Wayne Archeological Society, VP and Board Member of the WV

Archeological Society, and founder and member of the KY Archeological Association. As part of his love of

the outdoors, and like his parents, Lany was a master gardener and enjoyed sharing his garden's bounty

with friends and neighbors.

Music was a thread woven through the years since childhood. With a beautiful tenor/baritone voice, Lany

regaled everyone with songs across numerous genres and he knew all the verses. He taught himself to

play several instruments including the guitar, concertina, and banjo, but his favorite was the harmonica

which he always carried with him and could strike up a tune anytime, anywhere. But he didn't always need

an instrument as he loved to whistle and could even yodel!

If that were not enough, Lany dabbled in sketching, and watercolor painting, and even tried his hand at

writing poetry. Working for the poet Robert Frost, while in college, may have influenced him! He also

collected stamps and coins. He would often surround himself with intellectuals to discuss his many

interests or help him work on his foreign language skills including Spanish, French, and German in addition

to Japanese. He was a fervent reader of newspapers and books, both educational and recreational. He

also served as a director at the Kentucky Farmers Bank, President of Northup Properties, Inc., and was a

member of numerous organizations including the Gypsy Club, Guyan Country Club, the Elks Club, and the

American Legion. Whatever his interests were, whether personal or professional, he pursued them with

excellence, honesty, and integrity. Lany was rich in family and friends who loved to hear his many stories

about his adventures.

Lany was predeceased by his son, Lansing Gaylord Brisbin, III. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Joan

Metzger, sister Phebe Brisbin Gillespie, of Naples, FL, and daughters Alana B. Parker (Joseph) of Snow Hill,

MD, and Rebekah B. Casey (Michael) of Naples, FL. Son, Richard J. Brisbin (Victoria) of Coral Springs, FL.

Grandchildren: CDR Joseph E. Parker, III, USN, Ret. (Jacque), Jacob J. Parker (Linsey), Katherine Brisbin

Correa (Walter), Janelle M. Torres, and Jennifer M. Torres. Seven great-grandchildren Lena Parker, John

Lansing Parker, Sydney Parker, Eli Parker, Logan Correa-Brisbin, Adio Salce-Torres, Charlotte Funk, and

many nieces and nephews.

He was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church. A private family service will be held at St. John's

Episcopal Church. Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, Huntington, WV

(www.wvtrinitychurch.org/give.html) or St. John's Episcopal Church, Naples, FL

(stjohnsnaples.com/celebration-3/donate/).