Lois Ann Crane

https://youtu.be/-eXw1_NIMMs

Lois Ann Crane, age 96, died peacefully at home on November 9, surrounded by her family. Born May 8, 1925, in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Preceded in death by Robert S. Crane Jr. (1992), her husband of 44 years, and her parents Wilber "Tom" and Hazel Woods. Survived by children, Rob (Shannon), Tom (Deidre Harrison), Tanny (John Wolff), and Jamie (Tim Miller); brother-in-law Jim Crane (Laura Dehlendorf), and grandchildren, Whitney (Bill Roddick), Connor, Chase, Emma, Adam, Tally (Jack Swain), Ali, Taylor and Hailey; great-grandchildren, Nolan (anagram of Loann), Wolff (born November 3) and step-grandchildren Stephany Fisher (Matt), Kristin Wolff (Robert Gassner) and great grandchildren Landon and Quinn.

Growing up as an only child in Martins Ferry, Loann developed her independent spirit early. She attended the Ohio State University, majoring in Linguistics and pledged Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. There, she met future husband, Bob, who often shared the story that he was immediately attracted to Loann because she offered to buy a round of drinks. After graduating, Loann moved to Cleveland for her first job, providing Spanish translation services. Loann and Bob married in 1948, raised their four children, moving from Springfield, OH to Upper Arlington. Much like Bob, Loann always found time to volunteer. She contributed through board activity: at West Side and Ohio Avenue Day Care Center, First Community Church Governing Board, Marburn Academy, Ohio History Connection, and Columbus Cancer Clinic. She stepped into the political world by running for Upper Arlington School Board, dragging her children door to door campaigning. Loann was committed to her role and eventually chaired the Board.

Loann found her true calling with Mary Lazarus, co-founding a consumer rights action line called Call for Action through WBNS 10TV, and then with WSYX TV's Six on Your Side. Loann had a love of the arts. An accomplished artist herself, she and her dear friends, Babs Sirak and Suzy Saxbe became entrepreneurs, founding Winning Images, an art consulting business advising corporate clients. Loann also fed her art appetite through engagement in the arts community for the rest of her life. It led her to board trusteeships on the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC), Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus College of Arts and Design (CCAD), Arts Midwest, and ProMusica.

Loann's love of reading and learning led to a love of world travel, enjoyed by Bob despite his grumbling and foot dragging. Together they ventured to every continent and more than 100 countries. After Bob's death, Loann continued her travels, accompanied by fellow traveling friends and family. Occasionally, Loann's boldness and curiosity got her in trouble; from witnessing an aerial bombardment during the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas, a terrorist bombing in Beirut, and Rwanda claiming her as the oldest mountain gorilla trekker. And when she was stopped by US Border Patrol questioning her travel to Cuba, despite the tourist ban, she responded, "Yes, I went to Cuba. So what, it's a bad law".

Loann was a committed feminist, contributing to women's philanthropy and became a founding member of The Women's Fund, as well as the Matriots. Loann received many community awards, including: Northwest Woman of the Year (UA Rotary), Humanitarian Award (Temple Israel), Citizen of the Year (UA Chamber), OSU Outstanding Volunteer (Gerlach Award), Outstanding Philanthropist (National Society of Fundraising Executives), Governor's Award for Philanthropy (Ohio Arts Council), Humanitarian of the Year Award (American Red Cross of Central Ohio), Alexis de Tocqueville Award (United Way of Central Ohio), Democracy in Action (League of Women Voters), Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement (YWCA), Celebration of Learning (Columbus Metropolitan Library), the Harrison Sayre Award (Columbus Foundation), the Spirit of Denny Griffith Award (CCAD) and most recently the 2021 Art for Life Award (Equitas). As much as Loann disdained public displays of philanthropy, she was incredibly proud of CCAD's Loann Crane Center for Design, to be enjoyed daily by students, and recently, the Loann Crane Gallery at GCAC. Her love for the humanities led her to initiate the Loann Crane Award for Hispanic Studies at OSU. She was also honored to provide stewardship on the Arts Committee for the Washington Gladden Social Justice Park's Our Single Garment of Destiny sculpture. Loann never forgot where she came from and endowed a scholarship for Martins Ferry High School students to attend OSU.

Throughout her life, Loann surrounded herself with friends whose intellect matched hers, whose spirit and curiosity inspired her. She leaves behind a loving family, her faithful dog Beau, two remarkable and loving caretakers (Fran Hill and Martine Mwamba) and many, many friends who adored her. A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 4pm on Monday, November 29, at the Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215. Family will receive friends from 2:30-4pm and then after the ceremony in the Derby Court at the museum. Non-vaccinated friends are requested to attend virtually. A link to the livestream service will be posted at www.schoedinger.com where condolences may be sent, and memories shared. Catered reception to follow in Derby Court. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to your favorite Central Ohio arts organization or go visit a gallery and buy art by a local artist in Loann's honor. Arrangements by Schoedinger Midtown.