Charles W. Lanham

Charles William Lanham passed away peacefully on October 1, 2025, in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Charles was born on February 18, 1935, in Marion, Kentucky, to Ada Nell (Eskew) and George William Lanham. He graduated from Crittenden County High School in Marion, Kentucky. Afterwards he worked for Eskew Brothers Heating and Plumbing. He later joined the U.S. Army, where he was a certified medical paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division for two years.
After the Army, Charles began a career spanning forty-five years working for LTV Steel, where he was a Supervisor of Instrument and Electronic Controls at the Indiana Harbor Works steel plant in East Chicago, Indiana.
Charles married Elaine Ford on August 14, 1966. Elaine was a widow, and he helped her raise her four children. He cared lovingly for Elaine until her death from cancer in 1978. He later married Shirley Grane Tomei on November 20, 1983. Not only did he assist Shirley in caring for her five children, but also her parents, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.
Charles loved everything about golf. He was an avid player and always looked forward to his annual fall outing with current and former LTV Steel colleagues at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
He will be remembered for his calm presence and unwavering love for his wife, Shirley. Charles, aka "Saint Charles," was tolerant, patient and always accommodating. The world would be a more peaceful place if we all had those qualities.
Charles was preceded in death by both his parents, wives, siblings' Shirley Crawford, Robert Lanham and Grover Ray Lanham, and stepchildren Jack Ford and Jan Ford. He is survived by his brother, A. Clay Lanham of LaPorte, Indiana, and sister Dorothy Stalion-Bowman of Danville, Kentucky. He is also survived by his seven stepchildren, Norman Ford of Portage, Indiana, Jeff Ford of DeMotte, Indiana, Sally Tomei Clifton of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Gigi Tomei of Necedah, Wisconsin, Davide Tomei of Ooltewah, Tennessee, Barri Tomei Marion of Scottsdale, Arizona and Duke Tomei of La Canada Flintridge, California. He was a loving grandfather to eighteen grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at Knollcrest Funeral Home in Lombard, Illinois, on Monday, October 13, from 8:30-10:30 a.m., followed by a private burial.