Ronald Erskine Lane

Ronald “Ron” Erskine Lane, 85, of Roswell, Georgia, passed away September 20, 2019. He was born at Georgia Baptist Hospital on November 18, 1933 to Lore Walker Lane and William Lewis Lane, Jr. He was educated in the Atlanta Public Schools and graduated from Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in 1951. Ron received his Bachelor’s degree from Baylor University in 1955, and attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also received his Master’s of Education degree and his Specialist in Education Administration degree from West Georgia College in the 1970’s.

Ron was an educator and administrator with Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County Schools from 1958 – 1993. He met Emma Watts while teaching at James L. Key Elementary School in 1958.

Ron and Emma married on August 15, 1959, and they recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They resided in the Atlanta area and raised three children: Claire (Chris) Santuae, Scott (Beth) Lane, and Paige (Matt) Felter. The Santuaes live in Coppell, Texas with their children, Mark and Mary Glen. The Lanes live in Roswell, Georgia with their children, Avery, Grace and Annie. The Felters live in San Antonio, Texas with their boys, Jack and Greg.

Ron has a brother, George (Dottie) Lane, who lives in Lawrenceville, Georgia. In-laws include Alvin and Jean Watts, of Newport, Tennessee, B.J. and Jan Watts of Louisville, Kentucky, Jerry and Linda Watts of Newport, Tennessee, and Becky and Phil Kindred of New Market, Tennessee. Ron also has many nieces and nephews, and a pet pug, Naomi.

Over the years, Ron was an active member of several churches, most notably Dogwood Hills Baptist Church where he was summer Youth Minister several years, Northside Drive Baptist Church, and St Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church. Ron and Emma most recently attended St. David’s Episcopal Church in Roswell.

Ron adored his seven grandchildren. Family trips to Saint George Island, Florida provided some of the greatest joys of his life: enjoying the beach, good meals, and time with loved ones.

Ron, a lifelong Democrat, was an open and eclectic personality who was fond of the news, people, The New Yorker, Sandburg, Shakespeare, hymns and liturgy, and most of all, Emma.

The family thanks the staff at Elmcroft of Roswell and Amity Hospice for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Episcopal Relief Fund, www.episcopalrelief.org or a donation to the Suthers Center, in care of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church.

A memorial service, interment, and reception will take place Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 2:00 pm at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 3110 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30319.