Robert Lantz, Class of 1985

Robert “Rock” Lantz ’85 died Jan. 3, 2022. He was born on Nov. 13, 1945 in Mansfield, Ohio to the late H. Robert and Maxine Bush Lantz. Rock worked for Lantz Mill’s, the family business founded by his grandfather, prior to enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1966. During the Vietnam War, he was stationed at Ubon Royal Thai AFB in Thailand where he supported the F4 Phantom aircraft and at Beale AFB of California working on the SR-71 Blackbird, which he was always proud to share.

A graduate of Otterbein College, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 1985 and continued to pursue his CPA license, eventually beginning his own firm. Upon moving to Westerville, Rock’s community involvement began with the Westerville youth baseball and softball programs, Church of the Messiah, and Westerville Lion’s Club. He joined the Rotary Club of Westerville in 1992, served on the board of directors and as club president. He was honored with the Rotarian of the Year Award and the A. Monroe Courtright Community Service Award. He earned the Westerville Board of Education’s “Superintendent of School’s A Award” for leadership in the “I Can” program and the Brown-Siegel Leadership Award as the Advisor to the Otterbein Rotaract Club which assisted the community in collecting food for the Westerville Area Resource Ministry. Proudly involved with Westerville Honor Flight, Rock assisted in multiple fundraisers and served as a guardian for 28 veterans to visit their memorials in Washington D.C. In recognition of his exemplary community service following his military commitment, Rock was honored to be inducted into The Ohio Veteran’s Hall of Fame in 2016.

He is survived by his wife Diana (Davis) Lantz; daughters Kelly Lantz, Stacy Adkins, and stepdaughter Lori Smith (Joe) Lucas; grandchildren, Derek, Andrew, Alex, Adam, and Abby; sisters Patricia (Don) Sanders and Jody (Leslie) Vance, along with many adored nieces and nephews.