Lane, James , 76, died on January 17, 2017 as a result of complications following a stroke. Jim was born on December 6, 1940 to Roland P. and Virginia (Sonsini) Lane in what was, at that time, Orange Memorial Hospital and died in the present day version of the same hospital, Orlando Regional. He loved Central Florida and lived his life chiefly in the College Park and Winter Park areas. Jim attended St. James School and then Bishop Moore High School, graduating in 1958. He went on to attend Spring Hill College and graduated in 1963 with a degree in Accounting. Jim married Mary Freeman in Winnetka, IL on August 3, 1963 and they had three children, Mary Lynda, James M. Jr., and Lisa Marie, all born in Pensacola, FL where he worked for Monsanto. After a transfer to Decatur, Alabama, Jim again felt the pull of Central Florida and headed for home with his family. Jim joined the local CPA firm of Colley, Trumbower & Howell in the early 1970s. He was made a partner in the firm and then became a partner with the international firm Coopers & Lybrand in 1987 when the two firms merged. Coopers & Lybrand later merged with Price Waterhouse and eventually the name was changed to PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the Big 4 accounting firms today. Jim retired from PwC as a partner and then worked for several local and regional CPA firms in the Orlando area. He was proudly a member of the Florida Institute of CPAs for over thirty years and served as President from 1984-1985. At the time of his death he was serving a three-year term on the Florida Board of Accountancy, a position appointed by the Governor and was a partner emeritus with WithumSmith & Brown PC. He leaves behind his wife of 24 years, Anne Heidrich Diebel-Lane, daughter Lisa (Martin) Hardy, son Jimmy Lane, and brother, John (Ruth) Lane. He is preceeded in death by his parents, his daughter Lynda Lane and his step-son Don Diebel, Jr. Also left behind are step-daughter Christine (Dave) Hempsted, and step-son, Peter (Tami) Diebel. In addition, Jim leaves seven grandsons who thought Jim was the funniest man around- Ryan Hempsted, Conor Diebel, Sean Hempsted, Liam Diebel, Nicholas Diebel, Aidan Hempsted, and Reilly Diebel. A celebration of his life and sharing of memories will be held at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home at 301 NE Ivanhoe Blvd. Orlando, FL 32804 on Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 5:00-7:00pm. Memory sharing service will be at 6:00pm. Funeral services will take place on Monday, January 23, 2017 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church at 526 N. Park Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow immediately at Palm Cemetery at 1005 N. New York Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789 and then a reception will be held at his home at 611 Penn Place, Winter Park, FL 32789. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bishop Moore Catholic High School, 3901 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL 32804 or the Diebel Legacy Fund, P.O. Box 2150, Winter Park, FL 32789.
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