Marion Proudman Lane

MERIDEN - Marion Proudman Lane, 108 years old, died peacefully in her sleep Wednesday morning, Nov. 24, 2004 at Victoria Towers in Meriden. She was the wife of the late Samuel V. Lane. A lifelong resident of Meriden, she was born Nov. 4, 1896, the day McKinley was elected President. She was the daughter of the late Arthur W. and Clara May Aubrey Proudman and was educated in the local Meriden schools. After graduating from high school, she helped her mother care for her ailing father. She married Samuel V. Lane in 1919 in Meriden where they continued to live. After Mr. Lane died at 51 years of age, Marion became a tireless volunteer. For the Meriden-Wallingford Hospital she volunteered in the coffee shop for several years as well as working as Chairman of Finance for the hospital Auxilliary. She was President of the Charity Club, raising funds by producing an annual theatrical production. She was chairman of the Volunteers of the Red Cross for five years, chairman of special gifts for three years for the United Fund, treasurer of the Meriden Girls Club and was a delegate and hostess to Girls Club of America in New York City. She was on the nominating committee for the YMCA. She is a member of the Susan Carrington Chapter of the DAR, the Meriden Historical Society, the YWCA and the First Congregational Church. Marion remained alert and mentally vigorous until her death. Although confined to a wheelchair for her final year, she continued to socialize in restaurants and at parties. On November 6th she entertained 70 friends and relatives for her 108th birthday. She loved to argue politics and was happy at the outcome of the election. She remembered marching down Colony Street in 1919 with Meriden's other suffragettes and in 1920, the first year women were allowed to vote, she cast her ballot for Republican Warren Harding. Recently she was featured on Channel 8 television in a heartwarming interview. She is survived by a son, Arthur Sherman Lane of Naples, FL; a daughter, Dorothy Elizabeth Lane DuPont of Guilford; and five grandchildren, Arthur Lane of Clarksville, MD, Edward Lane of Lake Forest, IL, Margaret DuPont of Johnson, VT, Benjamin DuPont, Jr. of Chester, CT and Lane DuPont of Westport, CT. She was predeceased by a son, John Sherman Lane. She wil be missed by many as well as the tenants of Victoria Towers where she has been the matriarch for thirty years. She lived in three centuries and when asked once how she lived so long, she said, ''I guess they don't want me up there yet.'' Let's hope they are now ready for this independent, outspoken woman Memorial service Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004, at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, 62 Colony St., Meriden. There are no calling hours. Arrangements are under the direction of Beecher & Bennett Flatow Funeral Home, 48 Cook Ave., Meriden. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mrs. Lane's memory may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Meriden, 15 Lincoln St., Meriden, CT 06451.