Willie G. Lanier, Jr.

It is with heavy hearts we announce that Willie G. Lanier, Jr., of Winfield, Pennsylvania passed peacefully on May 9th surrounded by his loving family at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.

Willie “Boo” Lanier was born on November 1, 1946, to Ardie Miller and Willie G. Lanier, Sr. in Java, Virginia. He was raised in Chester, Pennsylvania and graduated from Chester High School. 

Willie loved sports excelling at basketball and softball throughout high school while also serving as the basketball manager. Throughout his adult life, he continued to play sports earning honors as an outstanding first and second baseman, being selected many times to play on all-star teams, and setting several records for home runs. He also played on the baseball team that won the city championship. A lifelong sports fan, he was devoted to the Philadelphia Eagles football team.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army and completed a tour of duty in Vietnam. Having proudly served his country he then attended the Pennsylvania State Police Academy and faithfully served the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 32 years as a state trooper. He was stationed at Milton, Gibson, Harrisburg and returned to Milton where he retired in 2005 as a Corporal.

Willie truly enjoyed life and had many interests and hobbies. As a master gardener, his gardens yielded huge harvests of vegetables every year. He genuinely loved delivering his fresh produce to family, friends and anyone in need. He also found joy in constructing customized, hand-built stone walls and was in the process of completing another when he passed. Ever the sportsman, he was particularly fond of big fishing trips to the outer banks of North Carolina with his brothers.

Willie was a remarkable man who had a way of easily connecting with others. He possessed a one-of-a-kind, disarming sense of humor that attracted others and allowed him to effortlessly relate to them without regard to their walks of life. He didn’t regard others as strangers, but merely as people he hadn’t met yet. His kind, thoughtful and cordial manner allowed him to touch many lives in countless ways. His legacy of having inspired, helped and saved so many is nothing short of heroic. His memory will live forever. His passing leaves a huge void that can never be filled. 

Willie was preceded in death by his father, Willie G. Lanier, Sr. He is survived by his wife of 38 years Diane Orwig Lanier of Winfield, mother, Ardie Lanier of Chester, son William “Teeter” Avery of Germany, daughters Tressia Avery of Pittsburgh, and Jennifer Lanier of New Columbia; his five brothers Leon Lanier and wife Shiela, Hugh Lanier, Ivan Lanier and wife Nada, Darrell Lanier and wife Jane, and Erwin Lanier; sisters Elores Clark and Janet Lanier; grandchildren William, Jahnae, Jayniah, Gregory and Kaylah, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be officiated by Reverend Justin Lingenfelter at 11am on June 2, 2023 at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100 S. 3rd Street Lewisburg, PA 17837.

In lieu of flowers, the family please requests donations to the American Heart Association or to a local animal shelter in memory of Willie.

Our family would like to express our utmost gratitude to the staff at Geisinger Medical Center for their exceptional medical care of Willie.

We wish to thank Brooks Funeral Home and Cremation Services for their caring and professional services.

To share a memory or express condolences, please visit Brooks Funeral Home and Cremation Services P.C. | Turbotville PA funeral home and cremation (http://www.wfbrooksfuneralhome.com/)

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