It is with great sadness that the family of Dr. Walter W. Lane, Jr. announces his death after a brief illness, on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at the age of 84 years. Dr. Walter Lane was a prominent physician in the Tampa Bay area for over forty years. He was known as “Dr. Lane” to his patients and as “Walt” to his friends and family. He was born in Kansas City, MO on April 4, 1934 to the late Walter Wishart Lane Sr. and the late Geraldine Lane (Faley). He spent most of his youth in San Antonio, TX and relocated to Tampa, FL, attending Oak Grove Middle School. He is a graduate of Hillsborough High School, with the Class of 1952. While in high school, he became interested in the armed forces and joined ROTC and went on to attend The Citadel. He completed his undergraduate studies at University of Tampa with a degree in Civil Engineering. Walt was an active duty U.S. Navy pilot during the Korean War and continued to serve in the Reserves for over 20-years. After his active duty service in the Navy, he went on to complete medical school at the University of Florida. His life was devoted to his family and his work as a Family Physician. During his career Dr. Lane received numerous awards. He was an active community member in the Tampa Bay area and felt that public service was a civic responsibility. He was a member of the Krewe of Venus and served as King Venus XXXIII. As an avid runner and a pioneer in the Tampa Bay running community, he served as the founding Medical Director for the Gasparilla Distance Classic road race. He organized numerous running clubs and road races and ran enough distance to circle the globe three times. Dr. Lane was a visionary and inventor at heart and received numerous awards during his career. At age 32, he was named one of the “America’s Ten Outstanding Young Men of 1966” by the U.S. Jaycees for developing a simplified method for diagnosing bacterial infections. The clinical methods defined by him are still used today to test for infections such as strep and urinary tract infections. LOOK magazine referred to him as a “horse-and-buggy doctor with a jet propulsion whip” for his medical accomplishments and for politicking for the return of the family doctor. This reference by the magazine inspired him to name his medical practice the “Village Doctor” located in Carrollwood. His clever inventions were not only limited to his professional life but were celebrated in his personal life as well. The younger citizens (AKA neighborhood kids) of the Temple Terrace community lined up to partake in his “covered wagon” experience, and his children were the lucky recipients of the “Bicycle built for Five”. He wrote a monthly column on medical management and utilization best practices and served as a pioneer in this field. He was a life-long advocate for the protection of quality care and cost containment for patients. He authored numerous reports which were submitted to federal law makers and presidents. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to the Presidential Advisory Council for the Office of Economic Opportunity, replacing Dr. Benjamin Spock. In that capacity, Dr. Lane helped develop a national report on community action projects. Dr. Walter Lane truly made a difference in the world and blessed the lives of all those he encountered. The world is a better place because of him. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 26 years, Jane Lane of Tampa, FL, daughters Melissa Lane of Tampa, FL; Pamela Ketchey of Tampa, FL; and Stacie Wheelis of Denver, CO; step-daughter Michelle Crawford of Satellite Beach, FL and step-son Eliot Maas of Parrish, FL. He will also be fondly remembered by his twelve grandchildren, Ashley, Audrey, Brandon, Christopher, Jackson, Katelyn, Keaton, Lexy, Madison, Matthew, Ryan, and Taylor. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Nancie Hoopingarner Lane, daughter, Sharon Lane, and brother, David Lane. A Celebration of Life service will be held Friday, May 18, 2018, 11 am, at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 W. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33618 . The family will begin receiving friends one-hour prior.
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Posted on: 2018-05-17
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