OBITUARY: Elvis Edward Lanton
Harrisburg resident, Elvis Edward Lanton, 74, surrounded by loved ones, departed this life at 10:20 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, at St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville, Ind.
Elvis was born in Carrier Mills on Aug. 4, 1940, to the late Alvis L. and Veretta (Jenkins) Lanton. On June 20, 1960, he began sharing his life for 54 years with his "Sweet Pea" Shirley Howard. After graduating high school in 1958, Elvis began pursuing his career in the medical profession, earning his licensed practical nurse in 1962. He then joined Babcock and Wilcox as an industrial engineer and later retired from the Illinois Department of Corrections as shift commander in 2002. Elvis was a member of the Apostolic Church of God in Harrisburg, where he was also the board president and Sunday school superintendent. He was very civic minded and served as Harrisburg Police Commissioner and Republican Precinct Committeeman.
Elvis is survived by his wife, Shirley of Harrisburg; two sons, Alvis D. (Nadia) Lanton of Carmel, Ind. and Adrian (Paula) Lanton of Phoenix, Ariz; a daughter, Tanya Lanton Spencer of Harrisburg; six grandchildren, Sandra (Jesus) Castro, Michael (Keysha) Thomas, Amando (Melia) Neal, Allecia Lanton, Darrius Spencer and Sarah Lanton, who preceeded him in death. He is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren; a brother, Gary Lanton of Kankakee; Maria Lanton of Kansas City, Mo.; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitations will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2015, at Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg. Funeral service for Elvis will be at noon Saturday, March 7, 2015, at Reed Funeral Chapel, as well. Officiation of the service will be shared by his son, Alvis Lanton and his pastor, Ronald Williams. Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery in Carrier Mills. It is the Lanton family's wish that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Lung Association for COPD research. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and condolences may be sent to the family through the obituary page at www.reedfuneralchapel.com.