Charles William Lane III, age 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, November 15, 2017. Charlie was born in Shreveport, Louisiana to Charles W. Lane, Jr. and Frances Conrad Bailey on November 11, 1932. He grew up in Shreveport and Baton Rouge, graduating from Baton Rouge High in 1950 where he played on the basketball and football teams alongside Jim Cain and Bob Pettit. Charlie, who obtained his pilot’s license while in high school, saved his money to buy a piper cub airplane much to the chagrin of his mother, especially when he ‘buzzed’ the house, which he did frequently. He attended Tulane University where he joined the DKE fraternity, graduating in 1954 with a BBA. From there he went on to Tulane Law School, his studies interrupted when he was called to active duty in the Air Force where he became a jet and transport pilot, many years later retiring from the Air National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his duty at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, he met his future wife, Shirley Lou Henderson. He returned to law school and graduated from Tulane in 1959, soon afterward joining the law firm Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre (now the Jones Walker firm) specializing in anti-trust and litigation, where he was Chairman of the Executive Committee for many years. He remained at Jones Walker his entire career. Charlie belonged to many social and carnival organizations, particularly enjoying his rides in the Rex Parade each year, and served on numerous boards in the community. Known for his quiet wisdom and dry wit, Charlie was a true gentleman, willing to offer a helping hand whenever needed. When he wasn’t on the tennis courts, he was on the golf course, skiing in Colorado, or fervently watching football, particularly Tulane, LSU and the Saints, of which he was a lifetime ticket holder. Charlie is survived by his beloved wife Shirley Lou Henderson, his daughter Laura Lane McNeal (Rob), his daughter Susan Lane Kendrick (Don), his son Charles William Lane IV (Jane) and five grandchildren: Charles Beattie McNeal, William Robert McNeal, Guy Joseph Mitchell Jr. (Traci), Lane Elizabeth Mitchell, and Katherine Duncan Lane. Also surviving him is his brother Claude F. Reynaud Jr. (Erin). In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Lambeth House Foundation (lambethhouse.com), St. Martin’s Episcopal Church (stmepiscopal.com) or WYES Television (WYES.org). Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial service in the Chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans (in Metairie Cemetery), on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 11:00AM. A visitation will be held at the funeral home beginning at 9:30AM. Interment will be private. To view and sign the guest book, visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.
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