Janice J. Lantz, age 91, a resident of Roanoke, WV, died Monday, August 17, 2026, at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital in Weston. She was born on June 11, 1935, in Clay County, WV, a daughter of the late Thermon Evans and Rosa Browning Evans Nitz. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her former husband and father of her children, Junior Booth; her second husband, Ernest (Bud) Lantz; two grandsons: Rodney Bloomer and Gary Samples; nine brothers; and six sisters. Surviving are three children: Patricia (Ray) Eckes with whom she made her home these past four years, Burton (Pam) Booth of Weston, and Bruce (Michelle) Booth of Ellamore; eleven grandchildren: Raetta Atkinson, Mary (David) Rohrbough, Daniel (Brandi) Higham, Phillip Higham and companion Brandi Francis, Kenny (Alice) Booth, Kimberly Booth and companion Donald Goldsmith, Renae (Johnny) Nelson, Marsha (Nick) Lemons, Derrick (Heather) Woods, Brittney Booth and companion Mark Barb, and Katelyn (Tony) Powers; nineteen great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; one sister Wilda Jean Cogar; two brothers: Stanley (Kathy) Nitz and Allen Evans; and several nieces and nephews. She was also blessed with a blended family including two daughters: Jean (Robert) Jones and Fran (Lee) McCalla; two granddaughters: Joy (John) Jenkins and Jill (Brad) Petru; and six great grandchildren. In addition to the family listed, Janice leaves behind many children she “adopted” throughout the years; she loved everyone and never met a stranger.
Though she had formerly been a mail carrier and Tupperware consultant, Janice was a homemaker at heart. She took great care of all of her family. She and her late husband always had a huge garden. They enjoyed tending to the garden and hosting a big dinner feast with all the family. She had a huge table with 15 to 20, and sometimes more gathered around it. Many meals were shared around that table, sometimes it was fresh garden dinners and other times it was amazing Thanksgiving dinners. She enjoyed canning, cooking and baking for her family, as well as quilting and gifting her quilts to family. However, most of all she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. You always left Grandma’s house with a full belly and a full heart from all of her love. She always watched as you drove out the driveway, and she would be at the door waving goodbye to you.
The family will receive friends at the Heavner & Cutright Funeral Chapel on Thursday, August 20, 2026, from 5-7:00 PM. A funeral service will be held at the funeral chapel on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 1:00 PM, with Pastors Terry Gower and Charlie Barrett officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Union Cemetery.
