- Date Of Birth: July 5, 1927
- Date Of Death: November 30, 2020
- State: New Mexico
Robert E. Lane passed away on November 30, 2020 in Hobbs, New Mexico. He was born in Gridley, Kansas on July 5, 1927 to Frank Oliver and Helen Whitney Lane.
His family moved to Mountainair, N.M. in 1929. Bob graduated from Mountainair High School in 1945 and was drafted into the army shortly after graduation. He spent his military service at Fort Lewis, Washington.
After being discharged, he enrolled at the University of New Mexico, received a BA degree in education, later received his MA degree in education from Colorado State College in Greeley, Colorado. Bob taught in Hondo, N.M. and Mountainair, N.M. before accepting a position with the Hobbs Municipal School District in 1955. From 1955 until his retirement in 1985, he taught instrumental and vocal music at all levels in the
Hobbs schools. He was director of the Hobbs High School Band for sixteen years.
His career had many highlights. One of which he was most proud was performance of the Hobbs Eagle Varsity Band at the inauguration of President Nixon in 1969. The Hobbs High School band was the first band to represent the state of New Mexico for a Presidential inauguration.
Bob served as President of the SE N.M. Music Educators Association and served two years on the Board of Directors of the SW Region Conference. In 1977, he received two national awards, First Chair award as distinguished Band Master of American and
the R.R. McAllister Award. In 1989, Bob was inducted into the N.M. Music Educators Association Hall of Fame. He also participated in the Hobbs Community Band at NMJC. He loved playing the trombone.
Bob was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He shared his talents with the church by becoming the director of the Chancel Choir for several years, later sang in the Chancel Choir.
After retiring from teaching, he began a new career at Music World as an instrument repair technician and continued working there for another twenty-five years.
Bob was loving husband, Dad, grandpa and great grandpa and will be greatly missed by all his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Frank, Keith, Jim, and Bryce. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Dot) two daughters Linda Mock and husband Danny, Moriarty, N.M., Rebecca Kilroy, Rio Rancho, N.M. stepson Alan Eady and wife Whitney, stepdaughter Pamela Stauffer and John. He is survived by eight grandchildren, Michael Kilroy (Lisa) Capitola, Ca., Rob Cross (Meredith)
Kapaa, Hawaii, Amanda Kilroy, Rio Rancho, N.M., Christopher Wetterlund Albuquerque, N.M., Jennifer Adams, Edgewood, N.M., Nathan Eady, Dallas, Tx., Hanna Eady, Carrollton, Tx., Kara Kay, Norman, Ok. and eight great grandchildren, Lauren and Alyssa Kilroy, Capitola, Ca. Kala Cross, Kapaa, Hawaii, Larissa and Rigel Wetterlund, Albuquerque, Kaelon Duke, Albuquerque, Tuesday and Kyle Adams, Edgewood, NM.
