William "Bernard" Lane

Private First Class William "Bernard" Lane, 98, of Bickmore, WV passed away peacefully at home on April 1st 2024. He was born on November 3rd 1925 to Willie and Esther Lane at home in Cottrell Fork. Bernard joined the Army at 18 and served with Company D 264th Infantry Regiment in WWII from 1944 to 1946 surviving the sinking of the SS Leopoldville on Christmas Eve 1944. After his Honorable Discharge, he married the love of his life on October 7th 1946, whom he met walking down Fola Road when Shirley Fitzwater placed her hand in his. Together they had 12 children and as he always said, “They came cheaper by the dozen.” They lived happily together until her death on June 6th 2014.

He was preceded in death by his parents and step-father Lehman Mays; wife Marjorie (Price) Lane; son William Scott Lane; daughter Monna Sue Daniel; granddaughter Vanessa Sue Daniel; and eight siblings.

He is lovingly survived and sorely missed by his son-in-law Connie Daniel of Maysel, WV; and children Jeanette Franklin of Bickmore, WV; Eldis Lane of Clay, WV; Mike Lane (Nancy) of Jodie, WV; Denice “Joyce” Holcomb (Larry) of Bickmore, WV; Cheryl Moore (Allen) of Lizemores, WV; Bruce Lane (Sandra) of Clendenin, WV; Brad Lane (Donna) of Indore, WV; Tony Lane (Drema) of Lerona, WV; Neal Lane (Jill) of High Point, NC; Teresa Nesler (Garret) of Ettrick, WI; and brother Junior Mays of Bickmore, WV; 32 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; 19 great-great-grandchildren.

 Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 4th 2024 from 6pm to 8pm at Wilson-Smith Funeral Home in Clay, WV. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 5th 2024 at 11 am at Fola Missionary Baptist Church in Bickmore, WV with Daniel Tanner officiating. Burial to follow at Sunset Cemetery.

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