W. Hanes Lancaster

W. Hanes Lancaster, Jr., 89, Johnson City, died Monday, January 27, 2014 at the Johnson City Medical Center. He was a Chattanooga native and the son of the late Walter Hanes Lancaster, Sr. and Evelyn Hurt Lovelace Lancaster. Mr. Lancaster was a 1942 graduate of the McCallie School, where he was the squadron commander and recipient of the Grayson Medal, the schools highest honor. After a single term at Washington and Lee University, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. He served as a gunner aboard B-29 bombers and saw action in China-Burma-India theater of operations and on Tinian Island in the Mariana Islands, from where bombing missions were launched against the Japanese home islands. Following his honorable discharge from service, Mr. Lancaster returned home and completed his degree at Washington and Lee. He and his wife, the late Barbara B. Lancaster, moved to Johnson City in 1948. Mr. Lancaster joined his father operating radio station WJHL and later founded WJHL television, the tri-cities first television station. Mr. Lancaster was active civically. He was former chairman of the Johnson City Health and Education Facilities Board and served on the board of directors of: the ETSU Foundation, SunTrust Bank, Johnson City Medical Center, the Johnson City Country Club, and the former Johnson City Swim Association. He was also a member of the Tri-Cities Airport Authority, the Johnson City Rotary Club, and the Hurstleigh Club. In addition to his parents and wife, Barbara B. Lancaster, one granddaughter Polly Ann Williams preceded him in death. Survivors include: four daughters, Susan L. Rule and her husband Jim, Polly L. Torbett and her husband Tom, Ellyn Lancaster, and Mary Hanes Runyan and her husband Marc, all of Johnson City; grandchildren, Bebe Reed and her husband Bo of Statham, Georgia, Staley Smith and her husband Wayne of Winder, Georgia, Betsy Gregg and her husband Chris of Jonesborough, Courtney Williams of Johnson City, Tommy Torbett II and his wife Kelly of Johnson City, Hanes Torbett and his wife Stacie of Jonesborough, Lance Torbett and his wife Christy of Johnson City, Susan L. McBride and her husband Raymond of Johnson City, Lacy Clay and her husband Nick of Johnson City, Barrett Beeson of Charleston, SC, Lyn Bedsaul and her husband Kris of Portland, OR, Valda Hathaway and her husband John of Charleston, SC, Caroline Kaylor and her husband Blake of Chattanooga, Logan Myers and her husband Andy of Charlotte, North Carolina, Laynee Fleenor and her husband Jason of Johnson City, and Freddy Lockett of Johnson City; 33 great grandchildren; and brother-in-law, Llewellyn Boyd and his wife Ann of Chattanooga. The family would like to recognize and thank Mr. Lancasters devoted caregivers: Pat Mullis, Linda Ward, Connie Lamore, and Sue Arnett for their care.