Alvin DaWain Lanham, 73, of Waynesville, Missouri passed away on August 13, 2019 at 5:05 pm in Cox Hospital, Springfield, Missouri after a long illness. DaWain was born in St. Louis, Missouri on May 27, 1946 and lived most of his life in Sunset Hills and the St. Louis area. He attended Rott Elementary School and Lindberg High School.

DaWain was preceded in death by his parents Edith Bernice (Parker) and Lewis Lafferty Lanham, his wife Shirley Lanham and his brother, Charles William Lanham.

DaWain is lovingly remembered and survived by his daughter, Becki Reinhardt and her husband Scott of Chandler, Arizona. Becki was born on Friday, the 13^th and from that day on, he considered thirteen to be his lucky number. He was ever so proud of Becki and Scott for their work in the medial field and for following their dreams of living in Florida and now moving to Arizona to be close to family. Teaching his grand dog, Cash, tricks and sneaking him treats was a favorite thing to do when he visited their home and stayed in his room that they so lovingly called “the shop.”

He is also survived by his siblings Bonnie Sue Lanham-Ewen, Cathern Louise Poole, Daniel Edward Lanham (Julie), and Michael Eugene Lanham (Terri), as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews all of whom he adored. Family ties and times were important to DaWain. He loved visiting his childhood home that his brother, Dan restored, seeing his sister Bonnie Sue’s new condo on the bay in Florida. Cathern offered him advice on gardening and his 60^th birthday party at her place was an especially fond memory. DaWain and Mike shared a love of classic cars and he even accepted that Chryslers might be worth restoring. DaWain trekked to Pennsylvania to haul Mike’s newly purchased 1972 Orange Cuda back, which survived a rain storm and his driving on the turnpike, barely.

DaWain owned and operated a Shell Station in Crestwood and later an automobile repair shop in Fenton, Mo. He loved the “classics” and recently found his dream job working on ‘57 Ford Retractable Hard Tops at a restoration shop Rolla, Mo. The last few years, he spent many hours floating the river, brush hogging, watching sunsets and being close to nature at “the farm” on the Niangua River that he shared with the love of his life, Annice McLean.

DaWain rarely met a stranger and always had a joke or story to tell. If he could help someone by sharing a smile or helping with a task, no matter how big or how small, it made his day. He counted his friends as one of his many blessing. He kept in touch with friends from elementary school, high school, his early work at the Standard Station in Sunset Hills, army days, and car shows. Once you were DaWain’s friend you were his friend for life.

DaWain’s philosophy was to share anything he could with others; be it time, a helping hand, or a just a warm smile. He often said “Your own soul is nourished when you are kind.” (Proverbs 11:17) Throughout his life, DaWain’s soul was nourished everyday as he served with kindness and brought joy to others. We ask you to pass DaWain’s zest for life forward, with his smile in mind, by giving and being kind to others.

“Be the things you loved most about DaWain and those who are gone.” Remember he was and still is, “Livin’ the Dream.”

Celebration of Life Services will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 765 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, Missouri. 63125. One last car show just for DaWain.