Hazel Ruth Asby Lane
Dec. 24, 2015

Mrs. Hazel A. Lane, 94, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2015 at WhiteStone, a Masonic and Eastern Star Home, in Greensboro, NC, after a short period of rapidly declining health. Visitation will be at WhiteStone from 12:30 – 2:00 pm on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 followed by a funeral service in the Tommy Jones Chapel at WhiteStone at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow in the WhiteStone Cemetery.

Originally from Washington, Mrs. Lane graduated from Swan Quarter High School and then completed a one-year business program at Women’s College (now UNC Greensboro), followed by work in clerical positions in her early adult life. In addition to her career as wife, mother and homemaker, Mrs. Lane took up additional duties in clerical areas once again when her husband was a seminary student.

She was very active in the Order of the Eastern Star until her recent illness, having served in the local chapter at WhiteStone (MESH), as well as in various capacities in local chapters in Kings Mountain, Wake Forest and Henderson. Of special note, she spent many years as Editor of the Tar Heel Star News, the newsletter of the North Carolina Grand Chapter of the Order. At WhiteStone she also spent many hours visiting residents of the Care and Wellness Center, was a fixture at Chapel services on Sunday mornings and during the week, and participated in Bible study, exercise classes and various other activities.

Mrs. Lane was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 67 years, Rowell Lane, originally of Rutherford County; her birth parents James Robert Asby and Ella Cutler Asby (Gertie), both of Washington; all five of her birth siblings (William Asby, Olivia Asby Morris, Ellis Asby, Paul Asby, Gilbert Asby); her foster parents J. Harry Swindell and Mary Atkinson Swindell, both of Swan Quarter; all three of her foster siblings, John Harold Swindell, Russell Swindell and Mary Louise Swindell McGee–who was also Mrs. Lane’s lifelong close friend; and a few days before her own passing, her close friend and neighbor at WhiteStone, Lucy Blakewood.

Mrs. Lane is survived by sons Robert Harold Lane and wife, Eleanor, of Asheville, NC, James Branch Lane and wife, Sheila Keane, of Portland, OR; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and wonderful friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Masonic and Eastern Star Home Foundation, LLC, which provides financial assistance to eligible North Carolina Master Masons, their wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and widows, and to members of the Order of the Eastern Star. Send donations to North Carolina Masonic and Eastern Star Home Foundation, LLC, 700 South Holden Road, Greensboro, North Carolina 27407.

Online condolences can be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.