William (Bill) E. Lansing

William (Bill) E. Lansing, age 97, passed away peacefully in his assisted-living home in Manassas, VA on Friday, December 22, 2017.  Bill was born in Grand Rapids, MI, on March 1, 1920.  He was married over 50 years to the late Lucille (Lu) Lansing.  They had three children:  Bill Jr., Marilu (Deceased), and Bob (Deceased).  Bill Lansing is survived by his son, Bill Jr. and his wife Terri, his son-in-law, Donald (Marilu's husband), four grandchildren and their families which include four great-grandchildren with a fifth on its way.

Bill Lansing met his wife-to-be, Lucille, in Bridgman, MI.  Bill was managing a church beach camp and Lu was a school teacher in town.  Their romance continued through WWII, where Bill became a Navy pilot flying PBM Martin/Mariner sea planes.  As the war wound down, they were married in Cocoa Beach, FL in 1944.  Upon release from active duty, Bill and Lu moved back to the Chicago area where he earned a business degree in night school at Northwestern University while pursuing a career in the toy business at Sears Roebuck.  Bill also continued flying in the Naval Reserve.  After 25 years with Sears, Bill and Lu moved to Barrington, RI, continuing in the toy industry joining Hasbro for another 25 years.  At Hasbro, he was instrumental in bringing G.I. Joe to children in many international markets.   After 41 years in Barrington, RI, Bill Lansing moved to Manassas, VA, in 2011 where he could be near his son Bill Jr. and his family. 

In addition to being an active member of his church, Bill's love of St. Francis of Assisi led him to becoming a faithful member of the National Fraternity of the Franciscan Secular Order for most of his adult life.  Bill was also extremely active in the scouting program holding many adult leadership positions for which he earned two of the highest leadership roles in scouting:  the Silver Beaver Award and the Catholic St. George Emblem.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 10am in St. Luke's Catholic Church, 108 Washington Road, Barrington, RI with burial at Forest Chapel Cemetery on Nayatt Rd.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a cause meaningful to you, or conduct a random act of kindness for someone in need.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William (Bill) E. Lansing, please visit our floral store.