Palestine High School Alumni Association

William Howard Lanier 1950

08 / 23 / 1932  –  02 / 01 / 2004

William Howard (Bill) Lanier, born August 23, 1932, in Palestine, Texas, passed away February 1, 2004 in Houston, Texas.

Bill graduated from Palestine High School in 1950 and was inducted in the Palestine High School Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Bill served in the U. S. Navy from 1952 to 1956 on the U.S.S. Pocono, and did reserve duty until 1960. Bill graduated from North Texas State University in 1959, but in his heart was always a Longhorn.

Bill worked from 1950 to 1988 for Texas & Pacific/Missouri Pacific/Union Pacific Railroad and was Man of the Year for the Rochester Railroad Association in Rochester, New York. Bill lived in Lubbock, Texas from 1972 through 2000 where he was a member and class chairman at Broadway Church of Christ, a volunteer at the South Plains Food Bank, and was active in the Lubbock Community Theater.

Moving to Houston in 2000, Bill was a member of the Bammel Road Church of Christ as well as the Lanier/Miori Sunday School Class at Champion Forest Baptist Church. Bill volunteered at the Potter’s Wheel and was an avid bridge player, known internationally. Above all, Bill loved his faith, his family, and his country.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Carolyn; daughter, Kathryn Lanier-LaBarre and her husband, Ray; son, W. Mark Lanier and his wife, Becky; daughter, Hollie Lanier Roberts and her husband, Kevin; grandchildren Lucas LaBarre, Will Lanier, Gracie Lanier, Rachel Lanier, Josh Roberts, Will Roberts, Davis LaBarre, Rebecca Lanier and Sarah Lanier; his mother-in-law, Katherine Holley; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 3 , 2004, at the Klein Funeral Home-Champion Forest. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 4, 2004, at Champion Forest Baptist Church, 15555 Stuebner Airline Rd., Houston, Texas 77069 with Mr. Charles Herd officiating. For those who desire, memorials may be directed to: South Plains Food Bank, 4612 Locust Street, Lubbock, Texas 79404, (806)763-3003.

Source: Houston Chronicle 02-03-2004