W. Ed Crane

William Edward Crane, 89, of Valdosta, died at home on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015.
Mr. Crane was Born in Wilmington, NC., on January 19, 1926 to the late Frank Vandevere and Marcia Schenck Crane. Mr. Crane attended the United States Naval Academy, the University of Southern California and in 1947 received a Bachelor of Science Administration degree from the University of California at Los Angeles.
In the early 1950s, Mr. Crane became vice president of Cal-Compack Foods in Santa Ana, CA. which was later purchased by Beatrice Foods. In 1970, Beatrice Foods moved Mr. Crane and his family to Valdosta where he became president of the South Georgia Pecan Company. He was also a group manager over nine Beatrice companies. In 1983 Mr. Crane, along Mr. Jim Worn, purchased the business from Beatrice Foods.
Mr. Crane quickly became a recognized leader in the Valdosta community serving on many boards and advisory councils including the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America-Alapaha Area Council, Boys Scouts of America Southern Region, Community Soup Kitchen, Salvation Army, Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, the Valdosta State University Foundation, and the Wiregrass Technical College Foundation.
Mr. Crane received numerous honors and recognitions. He was the area's first recipient of the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizens Award in 1993. He was awarded the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope, the YMCA Golden Triangle Service to Youth Award, the Salvation Army William Booth Award, the 1992 Member of the Year Valdosta Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce and he was an Honorary Member of Beta Gamma Sigma.
Mr. Crane was a member and past president of the Santa Ana, CA and the Valdosta Rotary Clubs and was named a Will Watt Fellow and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a member and past president of the Valdosta Country Club.
Mr. Crane was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Valdosta where he served as a deacon, the chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee and the Capital Campaign Planning Steering Committee.
He had an extraordinary talent for fund raising and led capital campaigns for the Salvation Army, Valwood School and others. Valwood held a special place in his heart and he was a sincere advocate for the school. He served as past chairman of the Valwood Board of Trustees and for many years continued to serve as a board member. His leadership as co-chair, of The Campaign for Valwood which began in 1998 played a major role in bringing the current campus into being. Crane Hall, the administrative building is named in his honor.
Mr. Crane is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Mary Catherine Covington Crane whom he affectionately called "Little Mary." Survivors include his son Bill Crane of Sebastopol, CA, son and daughter in law Scott and Dale Crane of Valdosta and daughter Ruby Shen of Edgewater, NJ. Mr. Crane took great pride in his grandchildren, Gracie Crane Douglas of Valdosta, Will and Erinn Crane of Smyrna and great granddaughter Audrey Douglas of Valdosta.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 8, 2015 in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with Rev. Gary Bagley and Mr. Larry Hanson officiating. A private committal will be held at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Monday from 5-8 p.m. at the Crane residence. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com.In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made to the Hospice of South Georgia, P.O. Box 1727, Valdosta, GA or the charity of your choice. Carson McLane Funeral Home.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602