James "Rusty" Lane

Rusty Lane passed away from a sudden heart attack on May 3, 2025. He was 77 years young.

 

Rusty was born in Houston, Texas in 1948. He graduated from Milby High School and attended Tulane University on a full-ride swimming scholarship.

 

Rusty should have been born with gills, he loved the water so much.  Sailing, Surfing, Waterskiing and any other sport on the ocean, he was ready to dive in.  That passion carried him all over the world, chasing waves and nurturing lifelong friendships everywhere he went.

 

He began working in the car industry before he could even drive, his intuitive understanding of machines was incredible. He built a variety of vehicles from the ground up, always curious about how to make them more efficient and fun.  From motorcycles to classic cars and anything that could float, he loved figuring out how to make an engine hum.

 

His life changed the day he met his wife, Ginny.  Nothing would ever be the same.  Anyone who ever saw them together was witness to a kind of love no words can describe.  He knew she hung the moon and told her so every day.  They were side by side for nearly 50 trips around the sun.

 

They moved to Olympia, WA in 1987.  Rusty switched gears and took his passion for machinery and systems into the new world of computer technology as an IBM business partner for the next decade.

 

The network he built in the technology industry opened the door for another career shift into Real Estate.  A lifelong entrepreneur, Rusty applied his systems expertise to starting City Realty with a couple of friends. It rapidly became (and still is) one of the top producing agencies in Washington.

 

But more important to him than any career he dove into?

 

His family.  

 

Rusty never missed a single sporting event for either of his daughters.  Every team they ever competed on knew that his cheering and support would lead the way to victory, on and off whatever court or field they competed on.

 

When Rusty believed in you, you knew you could accomplish anything.

 

Rusty’s lust for life is a legacy that carries on through his wife, daughters and grandchildren.  

 

He was beyond happy to have all of his girls in one place for the past year.   His grandchildren could do no wrong, he was thrilled to spoil them every day.  

His brothers, cousins, nieces, nephews were spread far and wide, but never more than a phone call away.   He never forgot a birthday.  

 

A community celebration of life will be held on July 19, 2025 from 1:00 to 4:00 at Uptown Grill (the former Dancing Goats Coffee Roastery) in Downtown Olympia.

Please do not wear black when you join us in celebrating his incredible colorful life.  Children of all ages are welcome to come share memories of Rusty.

 

This is a draft Obituary that will be updated shortly.