Person Page - 365

     Rosa Edith Layne was born in July 1892 at Marion County, Tennessee.¹ She was the daughter of William M. Layne and Cynthia Ann Hunter.¹ She married Alfred Taylor Thach, son of Dan T. Thach and Sarah D. Unknown, circa 1911 at Tennessee.^3,4 She died on 13 August 1960 at Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee, at age 68.⁵

     Steven Bruce Layne is the son of Walter DeWitt Layne and Nancy Jean VanLaar.¹

     Thomas Franklin Layne was also known as Tom to folks outside of the family.² Thomas Franklin Layne also went by the name of Frank to his family.² He was born on 29 January 1910 at Marion County, Tennessee.^1,3 He was the son of William M. Layne and Cynthia Ann Hunter.¹ He began military service on 5 April 1943 at Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, as a private in the United States Army.⁴ He ended military service on 16 October 1945.⁵ He died on 1 September 1991 at age 81.³ He was buried after 1 September 1991 at Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan.⁶

     Walter DeWitt Layne's middle name was from his uncle Dewitt Clinton Griswold.⁴ He was born on 22 April 1930 at Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee.^1,5,6 He was the son of Walter Scott Layne and Lois L. Cooley.¹ He married Nancy Jean VanLaar, daughter of William Frederick VanLaar and Jennie Louis, on 28 September 1951 at Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan.^2,4,7 He died on 10 April 2021 at Vicksburg, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, at age 90.^8,3

Walter DeWitt Layne
April 22, 1930 ~ April 10, 2021 (age 90)

Obituary
LAYNE, WALTER D.
of Vicksburg, MI

Walter DeWitt Layne, 90, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, April 10, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. He left this world to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and looks down on us all, smiling. Walter was born on April 22, 1930 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the son of Walter Scott Layne and Lois (Cooley) Layne. When Walt was seven years old, his family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan and eventually settled on Long Lake in Portage.

Walt initially attended University High School and then transferred to Vicksburg High, where he loved to play football and drive his 1930-era Ford and cruise Doris Lee's malt shop. He made many long-lasting friendships and was elected Class President his senior year. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served for three years (1947-1950). Walt was especially proud of his service on the carrier U.S.S. Princeton, where he saw the world, including post-war Japan and China. He performed many duties aboard ship and flew many missions as a crew member of the torpedo bomber squad.

Upon his discharge from the Navy, Walt met his wife-to-be, Nancy Van Laar and they were married on September 28, 1951. The couple eventually settled in Vicksburg area, where they raised their three children. Walt worked for the Upjohn Company as a chemical operator for 30 years, winning an Upjohn Award in the process. Retiring in 1985, he and Nancy wintered in LaBelle, Florida for another 30 years.

Walt loved to play golf (at one time, close to a scratch golfer) and fish for crappie in Lake Okeechobee. His fish fries were the best. In his youth, he drove stock cars at the Galesburg Speedway and ice-boated. He was incredibly handy and built a number of houses for himself and his family. He was a member of Amazing Grace Baptist Fellowship and belonged to the Gideons International and Masonic Lodge #240.

Walt is survived by his wife of 69 years, Nancy (Van Laar) Layne; children Steven (Sue) Layne, Lorrie (John) VerSteeg and Cyndee (Paul) Van Sweden; grandchildren Scott (Chandra) Kellogg, Leighann (Doug) Harris, Travis (Courtney) Van Sweden and Katie (Dan Ramsdell) Layne; 2 sisters, Mary Bullard and Barb Witherow; and great-grandchildren Hank, Clara, Rowen, Zayden and Griffin.

Services were held on April 13 at Langeland Chapel in Portage. Internment followed services. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Gideon's International or The American Kidney Fund.

Please visit Walt's personalized web page to sign his online guest book and leave a condolence or message for his family at: https://www.langelands.com.³

     Walter Scott Layne also went by the name of Scott.³ He was born on 23 June 1906 at Kimball, Marion County, Tennessee.^1,2 He was the son of William M. Layne and Cynthia Ann Hunter.¹ He married Lois L. Cooley on 19 July 1926 at Marion County, Tennessee.³ He was employed in 1937 at Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan.⁴ He died in August 1967 at Kalamazoo County, Michigan, at age 61.⁵

     William M. Layne also went by the name of Billie.³ He was born on 12 April 1856 at Tennessee.^4,5 He was the son of Charles Layne and Elizabeth Oyler.⁶ He married Cynthia Ann Hunter, daughter of Andrew Jackson Hunter and Kizziah L. Wilkey, on 13 September 1887 at Jasper, Marion County, Tennessee; G.W. Alley, JP performed the service.^1,7 He died on 17 December 1932 at South Pittsburg, Marion County, Tennessee, at age 76.⁵ He was buried after 17 December 1932 at Marion County, Tennessee.⁸

     Martha Delilah Layton also went by the name of Dillie or Mattie.² She was born circa 1872 at North Carolina.^1,2 She married Felix Andrew Musgrove, son of Alexander N. Musgrove and Martha Lucretia Jane Ham, before 1892 at USA.¹ She died circa 1932 at Texas.²

     Richard Leake was born circa 1691 at Henrico County, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Unknown circa 1712 at Virginia.

     Unknown Leake was born circa 1727 at Lunenburg County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Richard Leake and Elizabeth Unknown. She married William Slaughter circa 1754 at Virginia. She died before June 1762 at Lunenburg County, Virginia.

     Aaron Leath is the son of Terry Leath and Donna Jean Bow.¹