18 Sep 1921 – 16 Apr 2015
2nd Great Grandson of Philip Cardon and Martha Marie Tourn
Great Grandson of Moses Byrne and Catherine Cardon
Grandson of William Henry Byrne and Cecile Elvara Easton
Son of Wallace Andrew Lane and Truth Ellen Byrne
Wally was a typical member of the Greatest Generation. He was a child of the depression whose service during WWII changed his life – he was a member of the 501st PIR (Geronimo!…) of the 101st Airborne (Screaming Eagles), he served in England, France, Operation Market Garden (Netherlands), and the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), was wounded in Arnhem (Battle of the Bulge), met the love of his life Gordena while in a military hospital, used the GI Bill to attend school. After school he worked as a draftsman then engineer for Garret AiResearch. He loved to travel, and after his retirement he and Gordie traveled to Alaska, around the US and Canada, as well as trips to Australia, Europe and cruises to Greece/Turkey and through the Panama Canal. They had a grand time.
Wally married Gordena Olmstead on March 18, 1947, in Spokane, Washington. They added 3 children to the family; Pamela Jean, Constance Sue, and Robert Wallace.
The last couple of years macular degeneration took most of his sight, but he never complained. He just soldiered on, feeding the birds, cleaning the gutters, and doing whatever household chores he could manage. Finally his body just gave out. He was the best husband and father anyone could wish for. We’ll miss him terribly but know it was time for him to go. His ashes will be interred at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Washington state.
Wallace E. Lane peacefully died April 16, 2015 in Yuma, AZ. He was born Sept. 18, 1921 in Bishop, CA to Wallace Andrew and Truth Byrne Lane. He was a true child of the Depression and of the Greatest Generation. He joined the Army serving in 501st PIR of the 101st Airborne in WWII. After being severely wounded in Bastogne, Belgium at Battle of the Bulge he met the love of his life in an army hospital, WAC Gordena Olmstead. They celebrated 68 years of marriage in March 2015. Wallace loved his family and friends, travel, fishing, wintering in Yuma, and his home in Washington.
Wallace is survived by Gordena, daughters Pam Carter and Connie Lane, granddaughters Marianne and Patty Carter, and great grandson Brenden Gill. His sisters Juanita Steiger, Nora Lane and Ed Lane all of CA, plus many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by son Robert Wallace Lane and brothers William and John.
Memorial was held at Kent Senior Center Friday May 29th at 3:15. Internment was at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent WA.
Published in the Seattle Times from May 27 to May 28, 2015
Tahoma National Cemetery
