James William Lane
James William Lane, 79, died Jan. 10, 2012, in Horseshoe Bay. He was born Feb. 6, 1932, in Los Angeles to Norman William Lane and Juanita Seavers Lane.
He married Nell Celeste Beach in 1954.
He attended George Washington High School in Los Angeles and then attended the University of Southern California on an academic scholarship, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering in 1954 and 1959 respectively.
After he received his bachelor’s degree, Union Oil hired him as a process engineer. In 1958, he joined Thompson Ramo Woolridge as a process engineer and travelled the world working on industrial projects for complex automation.
In the early 1960s he and colleagues formed the consulting company Profimatics Inc. He and his wife Lynn Snider Lane moved to Houston in 1968. He then joined Tenneco Inc. and served as executive director until he retired in February 1992. In 1995, the couple moved to Horseshoe Bay.
While at Tenneco, he co-authored “Modern Control Techniques for the Processing Industries,” a book used in universities and by plant managers.
He was an expert chess player. He also enjoyed bridge, tennis and dancing. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Highland Lakes Men’s Chorus. He enjoyed photography, painting and building many beautiful things.
In addition to his wife of 43 years, survivors include son Todd William Lane and wife Pamela Lane; daughters Denise Celeste Lane and Cynthia Sue Lane Cromier and her husband Russ, and grandsons Sean, Ryan and Derik; daughter Heather Lynn Henderson Sterling, and granddaughters Laura and Amanda; son Matthew Colin Henderson and wife Barbara Bessette-Henderson; and daughter Jennifer Henderson Knoll and grandson Jason.
He was preceded in death by sister Virginia Lane; son Richard Lovell Henderson; and son-in-law Jay William Sterling.
A memorial service is 11 a.m. Jan. 16 at The Church at Horseshoe Bay, 600 Hi Ridge in Horseshoe Bay, with the reverends Pete Christy and Johnny White officiating.
Donations in his memory can be made to the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association or The Church at Horseshoe Bay.
Condolences can be offered at www.clementswilcoxfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 1805 U.S. 281 North in Marble Falls, (830) 693-4373.