Richard Anthony “Tony” Lamer, 87, widower of Margaret Lee Mills Lamer, died Sunday, October 9, 2016, at his home.

Born July 20, 1929, in Anna, IL, he was a son of the late Elbert Lawrence Lamer and the late Helen Wilhelmina Hufnagel Lamer. He attended elementary schools in Cobden, Highland and Kewanee IL and graduated from Kewanee High School with the class of 1947. Upon graduation, he was employed by Illinois Commercial Telephone Company (a predecessor company of GTE) as a lineman. After advancing through occupational ranks, he was promoted to management at State Headquarters around 1956. That led to several advancements and relocations including an administrative position at GTE World Headquarters in New York City in 1963. He became Plant Director for GTE of the Southeast in Durham, NC in 1967 and moved to Sumter as Vice President and General Manager in 1971. He remained in top management positions in South Carolina until retirement in 1991 with over 43 years of service.

He was previously married to Betty Louise Ford Lamer and has four surviving children, Mary Elizabeth Bonney (Robert), Douglas Edward Lamer (Donna), Edyth Louise Gross (Dale), and Judith Marie Brabham (Woodrow). Also surviving are a step-daughter, Deborah Jan Deal; eight grandchildren, Matthew Douglas Lamer, Toni Michelle Lamer, Anna Christine Gross, Abigail Elizabeth Gross, John Paul Gross, Elizabeth Brabham Bouyea, Andrew Christian Brabham, and Andrea Lamer Morris (Donald); six great-grandchildren; a brother, John Patrick Lamer; and a sister, Ruth Ann Rakestraw.

In addition to his wife of 35 years, he was preceded in death by a son David Alan Lamer; and a brother, James Eugene Lamer.

Funeral services will be held at 10 A.M. Friday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel. Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to Tri-County Hospice, 2560 Tahoe Dr., Sumter, SC 29150.

The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to the staff of Tri-County Hospice for the compassionate care they have provided.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

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