Willard Ward Lane, Jr.

Willard (Bobby) Ward Lane Jr, of Petersburg, went to be with the lord on Friday September 22, 2023,

at the age of 89. Born in 1934 in Elberon, VA on a family farm in Surry County. He graduated from Surry

High School in 1953 and married the love of his life, Irma Setchel in 1956. He was a former Deacon at

Moore’s Swamp Baptist Church, past president, and hunt master of Surry Hunt Club, a 62-year member

and Past Master of Jefferson Masonic Lodge #65 in Surry. As well as a past district deputy Grand Master

of the 31st Masonic District of Virginia.

He was preceded in death by his father Willard Ward Lane Sr, mother Bernice Jones Lane, brother Billy

Harris Lane, sister Janice Lane Starke, and former wife Irma Setchel Lane. He is survived by his loving

wife of 30 years, Jacqueline Gibson Lane, sister Molly Lane Rickmond, children Gloria Lane Judkins,

Charles Harris Lane (Chuck), Edith Meriwether Ashman (Gene), Elizabeth Walker Quarles (Robert), Dr.

Lewis Meriwether Walker IV (Sandra); grandchildren Rachel Harrison, April Lane, Alan Lane, Caitlin

Fauth (Adam), Arkell Mokler (Mat), Nikki Callaway (Buddy), Marshall Quarles (Taylor), Lindsey Ashman

(Jacob), Andrew Walker (Emily), Grant Walker (Alexis), Julia Ashman, Fielding Quarles, Bryce Lane; great

grandchildren Terry Rath III, Abigail Fauth, Daniel Fauth, Oliver Fauth, Willow Fauth, David Fauth, Jayce

Rudd, Alexis Lane, Parker Jane Walker, Maeve Mokler and Thomas Callaway; great great grandchild Jasper Rath.

Bobby for many years worked his family farm growing peanuts, corn, wheat, soybeans, along with

raising hogs and beef cattle. After retiring from farming, he worked at Schultz Peanut in Wakefield and

later he enjoyed helping others at Boulevard Flower Garden in Colonial Heights. He was the first to

arrive and last to leave each day. He was blessed to have a multitude of very dear friends that he

considered part of his extended family. A special thanks to Doris Ruiz for her kindness, friendship and

devoted support getting Bobby to his many appointments, she has been our Angel on earth. We are so

forever grateful for the loving kindness and friendship shown to us.

A celebration of life will be held at Moore’s Swamp Baptist Church in Surry on September 30 at 2 pm.

The family is extremely grateful to At Home Care & Hospice for their kindness in caring for our

 loved one,  in his time of need. Also to Little’s Funeral Home in Smithfield for handling the funeral arrangements,

our sincere appreciation from the family for their outstanding service.

 In lieu of flowers, please consider expressions of sympathy in the form of contributions to one

of the following: Moore’s Swamp Baptist Church (2300 Runnymede Road, Elberon, VA 23846),

Christ & Grace Episcopal Church (1545 South Sycamore Street, Petersburg, VA 23805),

Masonic Home of Virginia (mahova.org), At Home Care & Hospice (131 Temple Lake Drive, Suite #2,

Colonial Heights, VA 23834). Online condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com.