Liberty family mourns loss of longtime supporter Ronnie Lakin

A dear friend of the Liberty University family, Ronnie Lakin, 65, of Titusville, Fla., died on Monday, Aug. 27.

Lakin was the grandson of the great evangelist B.R. Lakin, who was a close friend of Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell, Sr. and co-founder Dr. Elmer Towns. B.R. Lakin and his wife, Violet, are buried on Liberty’s campus next to the Prayer Chapel. The ministerial training school at Liberty is called the B.R. Lakin School of Religion.

Ronnie Lakin spent much time traveling with his grandfather, driving the car or motor home and assisting with managerial duties as B. R. Lakin preached the Gospel. He was very close to his grandfather, whom he considered a second father, along with Falwell, with whom he and B.R. Lakin also traveled. Ronnie’s father, William, an only child, died when Ronnie was young and B. R. and Violet Lakin raised him.

“Without the grandson Ronnie Lakin, the grandfather, B. R. Lakin, could not have accomplished all of the things he accomplished,” Towns said.

Ronnie Lakin was the owner and realtor for a local Century 21 branch and is remembered as a faithful servant of the Lord, ministering as a Sunday school teacher and trustee for Temple Baptist Church (Titusville) for nearly 40 years

Ronnie Lakin is survived by his wife, Linda, of 40 years, five children, and 14 grandchildren.

B.R. Lakin’s love for Liberty and Dr. Falwell was evident, and has been fondly passed down the family line.

“My grandfather loved the school, and that just carried on throughout each generation … that was my grandfather’s legacy,” said Mike Lakin, Ronnie’s son and B.R.’s great grandson. “We will always have that connection to Liberty.”

Mike Lakin recalls Ronnie’s special relationship with Falwell, whom he visited often.

“They were really close friends,” he said. “It was because of his grandfather, the closeness that Dr. Falwell had with him.”

He said Ronnie and Falwell loved to joke around and were like “mischievous brothers,” together pulling many pranks that Falwell was infamous and fondly remembered for.

Mike Lakin is a student with Liberty University Online, pursuing a degree in business, specializing in marketing. He plans to participate in Liberty’s Commencement exercises in May.

He said he hopes that the love for Liberty his great grandfather and father shared will continue to be passed down to future generations of his family, including his two daughters.

Towns said the Lakin family has truly carried on Liberty’s mission of Training Champions for Christ.

“Liberty University expresses condolences to the living members of the Lakin family at the loss of Ronnie Lakin, a great soldier of the Lord and one who enabled the ministry to go forward,” Towns said.