Bill was born on August 8, 1937 in West Virginia, one of several siblings. He is survived by his sisters Francis and Norma.
He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1956 and was initially stationed at Harlingen Air Force Base, Texas. There, he met his future wife, Hermila “Sandy” Perez Lanham. In 1959, daughter Dora was born, and in 1963, second daughter Wanda completed the Lanham family. For the next 16 years, the Lanhams were stationed in Texas, Arizona, North Carolina, Arkansas, Alaska, and finally Spain in the late 1970s. Bill also performed tours in Vietnam and the Philippines. During his Air Force service, Bill was a star bowler on several Air Force teams in the U.S. and in Europe.
Bill retired from the Air Force in 1982 and for the next 20 years, worked for 7-11 as a manager, the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier, and finally as an entrepreneur, when he and Sandy owned and operated a fun-filled gift slot machine casino operation in San Antonio, Texas.
Bill, Dora, and Wanda lost Hermila “Sandy” Lanham in 2007, and Bill finally moved to Phoenix, Arizona with his daughters in 2014. For the past 7 years, Bill enjoyed his new Arizona life with his daughters Wanda and Dora, granddaughter Taylor Reed Sandine McKenney (born 1994), son-in-law Mark Reed (born 1958), and newest son-in-law Shelby Smith (born 1969).
Bill was an active member of the West Valley Center for Spiritual Living, and enjoyed weekly games of poker and pinochle with friends. He remained a devoted bowler until the end, despite his Parkinson’s disease.
On Monday the 24th of May, 2021, there will be a Visitation/Gathering of Friends and Family to Celebrate the Life of William “Bill” Lanham from 10 am to 1pm at the: Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Hwy, San Antonio, TX 78218.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association.
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