William Harold Lansing

William “Bill” H. Lansing was born in Des Moines, Iowa and passed away peacefully in Ventura at the age of 98 on July 13, 2017. Bill grew up in Youngstown, Ohio and met the love of his life, Dorothy, while they were both students at Oberlin College. Bill served in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant JG and, after receiving Officer’s Training at Princeton University, Harvard University and at Noroton, CT, he was deployed to the Philippines where he decoded messages for the remainder of WW II. He later became a member of The American Legion, Post 507, and in 1953 received his Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Navy.

Bill and Dorothy were married at the close of the war and made their home in Long Beach, CA, where Bill was employed by Standard Oil as an accountant. In 1954, after the birth of their two daughters, the family moved to Ventura. In 1960 Bill attended USC working towards his Master’s in Social Work and was employed as a County Program Manager for Ventura until his retirement in 1982.

Bill and Dorothy were longtime active members of Community Presbyterian Church where Bill served as Deacon, Usher, Sunday School Teacher, and Asst. Director of Children’s Christian Education. He also served on the Building Committee, was active in ministry to county jail inmates and, in his later years, sometimes led the Saturday morning Men’s Bible Study where he made many friends.

Bill loved Big Band music and played the piano almost every day, well into his eighties. An avid Bridge player, Bill earned his Life Master and eventually began a third career directing duplicate bridge. He and Dorothy traveled extensively before her death.

Bill is survived by his daughters, Joan Lansing-Eigenhuis and Betty Jean (Randy) FitzPatrick, all of Ventura; five grandchildren, David (Jane) Regan of Reno, NV, Melinda (Jake) Madden of Mendocino, CA, Dan FitzPatrick of Ventura, Rebecca (Andrew) Haystead of Ventura, and Beth (Jason) Viera of East Greenwich, RI. He also leaves behind twelve great-grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, his sister, Marjorie Booth, and his son-in-law, C. Gilbert Eigenhuis, Jr.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff and caregivers at the Ventura TownHouse, Assisted Home Care and Livingston Memorial Hospice for their loving care of our father and grandfather.

A small graveside service will be held at Ivy Lawn Cemetery on July 27, 2017, at 11:00 A.M., with the Reverend Wayne Kempton officiating.

Arrangements under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura, CA.