Harlan C. Proctor

Harlan Charles Proctor, Jr., 95, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2025, surrounded by loving family members. Born in his family’s farmhouse in Morgantown, Kentucky, on July 29, 1930, Harlan graduated from Butler County High School in 1949. He attended Western Kentucky University for three years before enlisting to serve a two-year tour of duty in the U.S. Army.

While in college, Harlan met his wife, Jean, and they married two years later at Wesley United Methodist Church in Jean’s hometown of Lakeland. Upon Harlan’s completion of his military duty, they returned to Lakeland and enjoyed 63 years of marriage before Jean’s passing in 2017.

In 1956, Harlan began working for the City of Lakeland as an entry-level Plant Engineer Helper at the Charles Larsen Memorial Power Plant. Through his devotion to learning all about the operations of power production, he was regularly promoted to higher levels of management, retiring in 1991 as Superintendent of Larsen Power Plant.

Harlan was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church of Lakeland, where he held a leadership role in the Homebuilders Sunday School Class. He also served as Head Usher for many years. Harlan enjoyed volunteering in the community, and some of his favorite opportunities to serve were with the local Boy Scouts of America organization, Habitat for Humanity, Sun ‘N Fun Aerospace Expo and Lakeland Regional Health, where he transported visitors from the parking lot to the hospital entrance.

Family time was important to Harlan, whether it was traveling to Kentucky each year to visit his parents, attending momentous events in the lives of his children and grandchildren, or taking his great-grandchildren on wagon rides around the neighborhood behind his riding lawn mower.

Harlan was preceded in death by his wife, Marion Jean Proctor, his parents, Harlan, Sr. and Grace Proctor, his brother, James Proctor, and his grandson, Michael Proctor. He is survived by his sons, David Proctor of Simpsonville, SC, Brian Proctor of South Daytona, FL, and Dr. Keith (Donna) Proctor of Paint Lick, KY; daughter, Linda (Bob) English of Lakeland, FL; grandchildren, Christopher (Melanie) Proctor, Ansley (Ross) Cockerham, Courtney (Cody) Dickerson, Catherine (Jacob) Brodnick, Joshua (Cynthia) Proctor, USCG, Clayton (Lindsey) Proctor, USAF, Emily English, Tristan Proctor and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, from 5:00 -7:00 pm at Heath Funeral Chapel, 328 S. Ingraham Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33801. A celebration of Harlan’s life will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 3:00 pm at First United Methodist Church, 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801, with interment to follow at Oak Hill Burial Park.

Memorials may be made in Harlan’s memory to First United Methodist Church, 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801.