Lance Carl Finney

February 24, 1929 - January 15, 2022

Graveside services for Lance Carl Finney will be held Friday, January 21, 2022 at 2:00 PM at the Wetumka Cemetery. Lance Carl Finney was born February 24, 1929 in Wetumka, Oklahoma to James Edward and Lillie Mae (Crabtree) Finney. He passed away Saturday, January 15, 2022 in Auburndale, Florida at the age of 92. He was a retired professional librarian. Lance spent his childhood growing up with his family in Hughes County in Wetumka, Oklahoma. He gained his education from Wetumka Public Schools, and as a young man left home to join and serve his country in the United States Army. After his time in the armed forces, he returned home to Oklahoma and attended the University of Oklahoma. Lance had developed a love for learning and moved to Baltimore, Maryland to further pursue his education and career. While beginning his career with the State Library of Maryland, he continued his education and achieved his Master's Degree while beginning the building of the Maryland State Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped in 1968. He was the Chief Library Director and became an advocate for the blind, disabled, and physically handicapped providing literacy resources for many across the nation utilizing a mail order system. He had become an avid writer, having many published articles as the most popular being, "The Library Building Program: Key to Success, 1984 Public Libraries 23 (Fall) 79-81. In the spring of 1986, Lance began a 7.5 million dollar construction project on the newly relocated Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD), which was completed and dedicated in December, 1992. He was very proud of this new resource library and all of the technology and resources it provided to many blind and print disabled people across the nation. He was honored for all his achievements and accomplishments that he gave to the Maryland State LBPD and retired soon after. He enjoyed his retirement years in North Carolina and Florida for many years, however, he decided in 2001 to volunteer as a retired professional librarian with the Lakeland Public Library. Lance saw a need for a resource library for parental guidance and created it with donations from the community and his charitable contributions. The Mayor, Ralph “Buddy” Fletcher, a caring community champion of Lakeland, Florida once asked Lance the question, “What do you find most rewarding in your volunteer work? He responded, “I liked meeting and associating with people who had positive attitudes, people who made things happen, people who wished to be helpful, and too, it made me feel very useful.” He continued his volunteer work until the spring of 2020. His loving and giving heart left a beacon of light for all in the communities of Baltimore, Maryland, Lakeland and Auburndale, Florida. His family will miss his bright smile, cheerful attitude, contagious laugh, storytelling, love and generosity. Lance or L.C. as he was often referred to, traveled often for visits to Oklahoma to spend quality time with loved ones and special friends. He had such a vast knowledge of our family ancestry, and definitely a passion for education so much so, that he generously gave to support others wanting to further their own education or brighten their future. He enjoyed telling stories of his world-wide traveling adventures, great cuisine, varied cultural experiences, and he would send fresh fruit as gifts to family annually for special occasions and holidays. He held his family in high regards and loved each one dearly. He would often write many letters and send cards to them with encouraging words and so enjoyed when they would respond back to him with the same affection. Lance lived, loved, and was definitely blessed by the goodness of God Lance was preceded in death by his parents, James Edward and Lillie Mae (Crabtree) Finney, a brother Rev. Lonnie Houston Finney and sister-in-law, Melba "Skeet" Finney, a brother Ray Allen Finney and sister-in-law, Jean Finney, his devoted sister, Rev.Walsa Mae Foxx and brother-in-law, Tony Foxx. He is survived by his youngest brother, Lowell Dean Finney of Sand Springs, Oklahoma. His dear friend, Baltazar Ortega of Auburndale, Florida. His surviving nieces, Carolyn Bingham, Kathryn Young, Sharon Bell, and Skip Dawson and surviving nephews, Larry Finney and Johnny Finney. As well as numerous great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and special lifelong friends. Services will be under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Home, Wetumka, Oklahoma. Online condolences may be made at www.ParksBrothersFuneralHome.com.