Richard S. Crane

Went home to be with his Lord and Savior and to re-Unite with the Love of his Life, Shirley J. Crane. Born February 13, 1923 to Jennie Bergerhoff and Robert Crane in Jersey City, NJ. Proceeded in death by his parents and siblings: Jean Anderson, Robert and Charles Crane. Husband of Shirley J Crane for 53 wonderful years.

Loving father of Jill (Leonard) Grabowski, Beverly Hills, Fl. Grandfather of: Mike Grabowski, Beverly Hills, Fl., Jackie (Kenneth) Saunders, Riverview, Fl., Jennifer (William) Hinson, Citrus Hills, Great Grandfather of Kimberly Clark, William, Jessica, Rebecca and Ashley Hinson. Great-Great Grandfather to Jaisa Ponds, Homosassa, Fl.

Loving father of Michele Crane, Clearwater, Fl., and Grandfather of Laura Lotowicz, Clearwater, Fl., and Sarah Lotowicz, Burke, Va.

While in the USCG radio school in Atlantic City, Richard met Shirley J. Harper, of Detroit, Mi. She was a waitress at a local diner and after a short whirlwind romance they married. He shipped out the following day.

His Grandfather, Lewis K Crane, was a Surfman in the U.S. Life-Saving Service in 1900, in Beach Haven, New Jersey. The USLSS later became the US Coast Guard. This may have been a factor for his choice to enlist in the United States Coast Guard in October 1941, serving a radio operator N3 until November 1945 and was in the US Navy Reserve in 1951.

Richard served on the CGC cutter Bibb. The Bibb decommissioned in 1985, now rests as a reef, near Molasses Reef in a buffer zone in the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary.

Richard served on the USS Samuel Chase AP-56 / APA-26

Richard served on the USS Wakefield. Previously known as The Manhattan a luxury liner, it carried over 1,100 passengers in cabin, tourist and third class. She and her sister ship, the Washington, had cabin class accommodations that were so luxurious it forced other liners to rename their first class as cabin class. The Manhattan was leased by the US Navy, and was subsequently commissioned as the troopship The USS Wakefield on 15 June, 1941. Assigned a Coast Guard crew under Commander Wilfrid N. Derby, she became the largest vessel ever operated by the Coast Guard.

At the end of WWII, Richard and Shirley settled in Dearborn, Mi. Richard became the proud owner of a Texaco Station which he sold to enter the US Naval Reserve in 1951; Richard worked as a plant manager for Purolator Products in Wayne, Michigan until his retirement.

For ten years the family enjoyed their cottage he built of used lumber on Goodchild Beach in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Summer days to swim and boat on Lake Erie.

Richard and Shirley then moved to a Manchester, Mi., renovated an old farmhouse, fished on their lake, enjoyed gardening and their horses, Fury and Scatterbox. In 1979 they moved to Crystal River, Florida where they enjoyed, their children and their families, boating on the river, gardening and cherished visits from friends.

Richards hobbies included boating, jewelry making, diving, fishing, boating, diving, gardening and amateur radio, N4EYN now a silent key. He taught code to a group of women, wives of ham operators, after they passed the key code exam they called themselves, The Magnificent Seven. After the loss of soul mate Shirley, Richard re-furbished a tugboat. It was built in 1937 at the Boston Naval Shipyard for the US Navy as a Liberty Launch. It was converted by Crosby Yacht Yard in 1951 as a working tug. After 6 years of work, he christened her the “Shirley Jean“.

He had always said he never thought he would live past the age of 20. Perched high in a crows nest in raging seas, singing his fears away believing no one could hear, except his Chief who later told him they all enjoyed his songs; or when he was hanging on for dear life operating his radio during a hurricane in the North Atlantic seas. He said he enjoyed each day and had a most wonderful fulfilled life enriched with his family, friends, people, opportunities and challenges he had met and all he’d tried to give in his 88 year journey.

He will always be loved, missed and remembered. He was as loving, patient, nurturing, kind, generous, sincere, compassionate, courageous, humorous, understanding and positive man, and yes, he was so real.

Arrangements under the direction of Moss Feaster Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Clearwater, FL.