Ryan Gail Lantz, 52, of Clarksburg, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, due to a tragic accident at Liberty High School. He was born, November 30, 1971, a son of the David and Ronda Williams Lantz of Clarksburg.
Surviving are his wife Kim Devericks Lantz, whom he married July 23, 1999; three children: Olivia Connor and her husband Colton, Broderick Lantz and his wife Camryn, and Miya Lantz; his grandchildren: Sebastian, Channing, Farrah, and Kennedy; his brother Philip Lantz and his wife Becky; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Rhonda and Rodney McIe; nieces, Sophie, Graham, Brandt, Nicole, Elizabeth, and Chelsea; great-nieces: Emilie, Gracelyn, and Oryanna, and a great-nephew, Jayce; and his beloved dogs, Cammie and Koda. Ryan is also survived by his friends and coaching colleagues, A.J. Harman, Basil Lucas, Bruce Carey, and Justin Noble, his many teaching colleagues, his church and church camp family, and all his students and players, past and present. He loved you all.
Ryan was preceded in death by his biological father, Thomas Sutton, his grandparents, Gail and Ruth Williams, and his mother-in-law, Patricia McCarty.
Ryan was a 1990 graduate of Liberty High School and a 1994 graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College. He returned to West Virginia Wesleyan and graduated with a Master’s Degree in 2013. He was a teacher at various schools for 11 years, most recently at Liberty High School where he taught journalism. He was an avid sports fan and coached many teams over the years including Mountaineer Middle School Football where he was the former head coach, Liberty Basketball, former head coach, also on the coaching staff for Liberty Football, RCB Freshman Basketball, and the Clarksburg Crush Travel Baseball team.
In addition to his professional career with students, Ryan was the former Youth Pastor at Jewel City Church for 10 years and faithfully attended Judson Baptist Camp where he served as Camp Pastor in past years. He loved to mentor students in life and in faith. He was saved and baptized at the age of 8 and served the Lord and the church in many capacities throughout his life. He will be deeply missed by all that loved him.
In keeping with his wishes, cremation services have been provided. The family will receive friends at Lifepointe Church, 2551 Buckhannon Pike, Mt. Clare, from 5-8pm, Friday and 2-4pm Saturday. A funeral service will be held at the church at 4pm, Saturday, with Pastors Aaron Morgan, Jeff Perine, and Tim Sandy officiating. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.perinefunerals.com. The Perine Funeral Home is honored to serve the Lantz family.