Delane L Futch

Lois Barbra DeLane Meeks Futch of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away peacefully at home in Belleview, FL, surrounded by family, on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the age of 86, after a lengthy illness.

“Dee” as she was known, was born in Cordelle, Georgia, to parents Echlyn Watson Meeks Hines and William Curtis Meeks on November 3, 1939. She married Air Force SSGT Milton McMullen Futch on Jan 19,1957 in Kingsland, GA.

 DeLane is preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers Robert Meeks, DeWayne Meeks and sister Emily Meeks Bashaw. 

She is survived by her children Stephen Futch III, Deidra Futch Hembree (the late Larry Hembree), Tarah Futch, Katurah Futch (Andrew Mullins), granddaughters Stephanie Futch and Devin Mullins. 

She graduated from Florida Junior College at Jacksonville with an Associate of Arts in 1980. 

She was a faithful military wife, devoted to her husband's military career during Korea and Vietnam. Throughout her life, she was deeply involved in her local community, from Jacksonville to San Bernardino, which she considered home. She served as troop leader for boy and Girl Scouts, raced dirt track for Chrysler Automotive, worked at a local paper, and was involved in the Civil Rights Movement. She also worked as a nurse for about twenty years.

As a lifelong Democrat, she proudly worked on several gubernatorial and Senate election campaigns. She was a member of the Young Democrats of California, a democratic delegate, and served as a campaign secretary for presidential candidate Ralph Nader. As a military wife, she was a staunch advocate for military families and veterans' benefits, participating in letter-writing campaigns for the rights of servicemen. 

There will be no service. An inurnment service will be held on November 3, 2026, at Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Rd at 11:30 AM. She will be placed alongside her husband. 

The family would like to sincerely thank the caregivers at Hospice of Marion County for the excellent care Dee received.