Lana Ruth Bartley

Lana Ruth Bartley, age 75 of Fairborn, OH, passed away Thursday, September 30, 2021, in Springboro. She was born August 26, 1946, in Winston-Salem, NC to the late Cabal and Ruby (Kennedy) Lemons.

Lana grew up around the Winston-Salem area with her three older siblings—Bobby, Margie, and Jeloma—and her younger brother, Jerry. Lana loved to share stories of a younger, ornerier "Tippy" (a nickname given due to her walking around on tiptoes to compensate for her petite size) growing up under foot of her beloved father, fussing and fighting with her younger brother, and always looking to occupy her quizzical mind.

Lana began her love of science and medicine while in high school. She worked in the labs at Bowman Grey and Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem doing research and phlebotomy. She later continued her work at Wright State University in Dayton, OH and eventually earned her degree as a Registered Nurse from Clark State University in 1984. Nursing was Lana's true calling in life. She was a kind, caring, thorough nurse who prided herself on giving every patient the best care possible, often going above and beyond the call of duty. She worked in nearly every department possible as she never wanted to stop learning and growing as a nurse. However, Lana's passion was the Mother/Baby unit, emphasis on "Baby."

When she wasn't nursing, Lana was working on a project of some kind—sewing, woodworking, drawing, painting, or tinkering with something or another. Lana loved to fly with her fiancé, Neil, in his airplane or to go for motorcycle rides through the country. Most of all, Lana enjoyed spending time with her family.

In addition to her parents, Lana was preceded in death by her brother, Jerry Lemons (1991) and sister, Margie Whitman (2007). Left to cherish Lana's memory are her fiancé, Neil Marshall; sons: Bryan (Cimber) Mabe and Chad (Kelley) Bartley; daughter, Angela (Tim) Matthieu; brother, Robert Teague; sister, Jeloma "Jae" (Andy) Myers; grandchildren: Devon and Tristan (Priscilla) Mabe, Joshua and Nathan Matthieu, and Chase, Kameron and Cayden Bartley; and several other relative and friends.

The family will receive friends Monday, October 11, 2021, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Beaver United Church of Christ (1960 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek, OH) where a funeral service celebrating Lana's life will follow at 1:00 p.m.

Donations in Lana's memory may be made to Day City Hospice at The Hope Foundation, 8039, Washington Village Dr., Dayton, OH 45458.

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