Stanley Towers Lane passed away March 1, 2018, at Elan Westpointe, New Braunfels, Texas.  He was born July 17, 1924, in San Antonio, to Gideon and Katie Towers Lane.

He grew up in Bandera and San Antonio and graduated from Breckenridge High School.  Stanley served in the United States Navy during World War II.  While in the Navy, he was educated at Columbia University as a biochemist and served as a medic aboard his Navy ship.

In 1952 Stanley bought ranch property in Blanco.  He continued to commute to Kelly Air Force Base for many years, where he served as Director of the Clinical Laboratory.  He also had a clinical laboratory in the Old Blanco County Courthouse during the time that it housed a hospital.   He was instrumental in encouraging his friend, Dr. David Vause, to establish his medical practice in Blanco.  Living on his beloved Twin Oaks Ranch, Stan enjoyed raising cattle, horses and peacocks, and always had a special love for dogs. Stan received Jesus Christ as his Savior at the age of 9 and served him faithfully for the rest of his life.   He was a member of First Baptist Church, where he served as deacon, choir member, and Sunday School teacher.  He was a baritone soloist and frequently sang at weddings, funerals, and civic events, as well as church.

​Stanley and Patricia were married in 1973.  He adopted her children, Lisa and Erik, and was a devoted husband and father.  Family was his top priority through the years.  Stan was a man of many talents and varied interests.  He enjoyed searching for Indian relics, arrowheads, and fossils. He collected stamps, coins, swords, antiques, and various other memorabilia. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and swimming.   He loved books and was an avid reader.  He enjoyed entertaining guests in his home, where friends would gather around to sing at the old player piano.  He enjoyed pulling the hay wagon with his tractor for a hayride all around the ranch and returning to the yard to enjoy the brisket he'd left cooking on the grill. He was an expert tennis player into his late 70s. After his retirement in 1976, Stanley and Patricia owned and operated the Sears Catalog Store on the Square.  He was very much involved in community and civic activities, often mentoring at the elementary school.  He was frequently invited to visit classrooms to share the stories he had been told by his two great uncles, Clint and Jeff Smith, who had been captured by the Indians as little boys.  In 1992 he served as president of the Blanco County Republican Club.  In 1998 he was elected president of the San Antonio Knife & Fork Club, which met monthly for a formal dinner party.  In 1976 he became pastor of the Kendalia Community Church where he served for 15 years (10 years at one time, another 5 years later).  Upon retirement he was given the honorary title of "Pastor Emeritus."

Stan always had a special love for the elderly, and for 40 years he​ visited weekly at each of the two local nursing homes, the old Blanco Mill Nursing Home and Live Oak,​ to bring a devotional of music and Bible​ reading for the residents.  He enjoyed travel, both in the U.S. and three trips abroad.  One highlight of his life was in 1985, when he was invited by Campus Crusade for Christ to preach the gospel at an English-speaking church in Mulheim, Germany.

Stanley was predeceased by his ​parents, his ​only brother George.  He is survived by his wife, Patricia; one son, Erik and wife Faye; one daughter, Lisa Sinder and husband Ben; two step-grandchildren, A.J. and Jocelyn Sinder.  He has one beloved nephew, Clifford and wife Winona, living in California.  His one precious niece, Barbara Crowley and husband Joe, of Blanco, were special caregivers in his latter years.  He has numerous cousins and a host of friends.  He will be greatly missed by those who loved him.

Family Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm March 9, 2018, at Crofts-Crow Funeral Home in Blanco, Texas.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 am Saturday, March 10, 2018, at First Baptist Church, Blanco, with burial at 2 pm at Mission Burial Park South located at 1700 Military Parkway in San Antonio.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kendalia Community Church or First Baptist Church of Blanco.