William Lanehart III, Navy Vet & FEC Engineer, Dies at 84 in Cocoa

William "Bill" W. Lanehart III, a longtime Cocoa resident, died Sept. 30, 2026, at age 84. He was born Dec. 4, 1941, in Foley, Florida, and moved to Brevard County in 1984.

Lanehart served four years in the U.S. Navy as a submariner, including during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After his military service, he worked as a railroad engineer for the Florida East Coast Railway for 21 years. He spent more than two decades working on the NASA railroad, ensuring supply lines for space missions.

An avid fisherman, Lanehart enjoyed time on his boat with his wife, Elaine. He was known for his outgoing nature, sense of humor, and ability to make people laugh.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine Lanehart; sons Jason Hall (Crystal) and Mark Lanehart (Vanessa); and six grandchildren: Bentley, Matthew, Lukas, Kinslee, Fischer and Baylor.

Memorial contributions may be made to Vitas Hospice or Parkinson's research. A committal service with military honors will be held at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims.