Robert Lowell Lane

He leaves his devoted wife of 62 years, Jo Walsh Lane, and his two children, Barbara L. Allin of Burke, Va. and Scott R. Lane and his wife Caroline S. Lane of Newton and Chatham, Mass. Bob also leaves his three grandchildren, Shannon L. Barnett and her husband Christopher Barnett of Stevens City, Va., N. Grady Allin of Burke, Va. and Elizabeth W. Lane of Newton, Mass.

Bob was born on January 1, 1930 in Havana, Ill. to Lowell B. and Leta Lane. Following his 1948 graduation from Havana High, where he made sure we knew he held a state record in pole-vault, he attended the University of Illinois. A brother of Beta Theta Pi, he graduated in 1952 and began his short military service with the US Air Force.

After discharge, he moved to Winston Salem, N.C. where he met the love of his life and wife of 62 years Jo Walsh Lane. Together they left N.C. for New Jersey, later moving on to Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Jo was always at his side whether on business trips, traveling the world, or a simple trip to Bailey’s for donuts.

Most of Bob’s career was spent with Digital Equipment Corporation where he was employee number 64. Bob was in the forefront of the computerization of newspaper production. He worked at Digital until his retirement in 1980. After retirement, Bob and several colleagues formed Newspaper System Support and Engineering Associates in La Jolla, Ca. His second retirement held, and he and Jo divided their time between Sagamore Beach, Mass. and Sanibel, Fla.

While always busy, nothing ever stood in the way of his other true love, tennis. Bob's love of tennis started in high school where he did actually step onto a tennis court in non-tennis clothes and continued with play at the Sagamore Beach Colony Club as well in southwest Florida where he played in both 50s-and-over and 70s-and-over leagues until he retired his racquet at 85. Bob's love of tennis was passed down to his children and three grandchildren, all of whom played high school varsity and two of whom played in college as well. His most prized trophies were the father-son and father-daughter championships he won with his children and grandchildren.

Bob was a doer––always working in his yard or helping out those around him. His legacy is seen in the friendships he held dear including many that started in his childhood. He always had time for his friends, his neighbors, his grandchildren, and the rest of his family.

A memorial service in memory of Bob will be announced at a later date. In appreciation of the love and care that Bob received, donations in his memory can be made to the Staff Scholarship Fund at Cypress Cove, 10200 Cypress Cove Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33908.