Samuel O. Lane

Samuel Owen Lane, 81, of Fernandina Beach, Florida died peacefully on Friday, August 15, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. Sam had multiple chapters in his life that touched every corner of the earth. Born in Waco, Texas to Samuel Owen and Neva Jean (Jones) Lane August 7, 1944, his father's career in the U.S. Foreign Service took the family all over the world. Sam served in the United States Air Force in Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, and South Korea. During his 27-year career in the USAF he was also stationed in Texas, Michigan, Delaware, California, Illinois, and Virginia.
He graduated from Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland, in 1962 as a residential student soon after his parents relocated to South America for the State Department. He went on to study literature, and joined ROTC at Brown University, graduating in 1967. He later earned a graduate degree in computer information systems. After retiring as a Colonel from the Pentagon he lived in Arlington, Virginia, embarking on a second career in management consulting with EDS and MITRE Corporation, traveling even further to assist companies with technology systems.
His real retirement in 2010 brought him to Ameila Island, Fernandina Beach, Florida for the warm weather and easy hobby flight path. A life-long love of the beach also brought him to his wife Leah Ward Lee, where they enjoyed sunrise walks until his last days. Sam and a group of his friends, known as the ROMEOs. (Retired Old Men Eating Out) were fixtures every Friday morning at Beach Diner, same table, and same server. Sam helped Leah with events for her non-profit, Thousand Dollar Start-ups, and was active in the Unitarian Universalist Church. He was unfailingly kind, rooted in public service, and willing to help anyone who asked.
Sam loved fast cars and classic cars, motorcycles, and airplanes. He saw beauty in their form and thrilled in the rush of air over metal. His eyes would follow a nice-looking car going by, and it may even elicit a wolf howl. But his heart belonged to airplanes. He and his buddies owned an airplane that they loved to jump in and go for what they called $100 hamburgers. He was heartbroken when he had to hang up his wings a couple of years ago.
Sam is predeceased by his wife Judith and niece Caroline Eltrich, as well as several very good dogs and some naughty ones.
He is greatly missed by his loving family: wife Leah Ward-Lee (Fernandina Beach, FL), son Travis Lane and stepson Tony Lee, sister Nancy Gunther Lane and Greg Gunther (Arlington, VA), brother Stuart and Vonda Lane (Denver, CO), as well as nieces and nephew (Kate Eltrich and Lisa Peña, Jessi Eltrich, Isabel and Joe Lane) and delighted in being a great-uncle and bonus grandfather to Max and Emilia Peña. Sam adored a big family dinner with everyone talking and laughing, ending with the perfect bowl of ice cream - Blue Bell of course!
A celebration of life will be held Sunday, October 5, 2025, from 1-4 PM at Story & Song Center for Arts and Culture, 1430 Park Avenue, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034
The burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Details will be announced when finalized.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks instead that you a consider a donation in Sam's honor to Community Hospice Jane & Bill Warner Center for Caring, Fernandina Beach.