Robert “Bob” Milton Lanning was born in Longview, Texas, on December 13, 1934, and went home on November 20, 2025, in Pearland, Texas.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon Lanning, and Maribel Thompson Lanning, and his two brothers, Richard “Buddy” Lanning and William “Bill” Lanning. His family later moved to Orange, Texas, where he grew up and attended school. He graduated from Stark High School in 1952, after which he served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in England for 18 months. His time overseas left a lasting impression, and he loved sharing the many stories he had from those years.
After leaving the Army, he studied engineering at Lamar University and began a career in drafting and steel detailing. He spent many years in the steel drafting industry and owned his own business, ACI Drafting, in Beaumont, Texas. He worked until he was 80 years young and finally retired at the loving insistence of his family.
Bob married Ellen Anderson in 1957, and together they welcomed three children, Robert “Allen”, Terry, and Carla. In 1976, he married his high school sweetheart, Sylvia McNamara Carr, and with that marriage, her three children, Cindi Carr Mackay, Leigh Carr Terrell, and Mark Carr, joined the family.
Bob had a lifelong love for music and theater. He built and painted sets for many local operas and plays and sang in the chorus. He was a member of the Harmony Exporters, a barbershop singing group where he and his friends performed in concerts and earned awards. One of the songs he loved singing was about a beautiful redhead, inspired by his beloved wife, Sylvia.
He is survived by his children, Allen Lanning and wife Sandra of The Woodlands, Terry Lanning LeGrande and husband Mark of Beaumont, and Carla Lanning Dunn and husband Jonathon of Pearland and six grandchildren, Amanda Petroff and husband Kevin, Eric Lanning and husband Leo, Katie LeGrande, Kelli LeGrande, Blake Opper, and Melissa Laudig; and four great-grandchildren, Cate Petroff, Nora Petroff, Jane Kitchen, and Vera Kitchen. He is also survived by his brother Buddy’s children, Robert “Bubba” Lanning, Leighia Beth Lanning Barron, and Rebecca Annette Lanning Owens.
Whether you knew him as Robert, Bob, Papa, or Great Papa, he loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren more than anything. He was also known for his love of his Schnauzers, his kids’ dogs, baseball, music, cookies, and everyday joys. He was a wonderful man who always had a quick joke, a kind word for everyone, and a heart that welcomed all. He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him. He was truly the BEST DAD in the world.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 6, 2025, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange.
Visitation will begin prior to the service at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 6, 2025, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.
The services for Robert Lanning will be livestreamed for the ones who are unable to make it. The livestream can be found under his obituary on. https://www.claybarfuneralhome.com/