Harold E. "Hal" Crane

Hal was born into this world September 17, 1930, at Paul Kimball Hospital, Lakewood, NJ to Harold Elroy Crane Sr. and Gladys Marie Crane. Hal mainly lived in Seaside Park and Toms River, NJ. Hal attended Toms River High School. Upon graduating in 1948, Hal enlisted in the United States’ Army as a medical technician. Hal was stationed both at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. as well as the White House under the Truman and Eisenhower Administrations.

Hal married Mary Edythe Gornto December 30, 1950, at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington D.C. After the military, Hal entered into full-time Christian ministry. He began his post-secondary education at Baylor University in Waco, TX and completed his Bachelors in Music at Eastern Michigan University. Hal also attended Southwestern Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX where he received his Master’s in Religious Education.

Hal served on the staff of a number of churches during his early years in ministry; Azle Avenue Baptist Church and Springdale Baptist Church both in Fort Worth, TX., Morningside Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA, and Merriman Road Baptist Church in Garden City, MI. Hal also served as the state Director of Missions for the Southern Baptist Convention in both MI and PA/South Jersey. In 1989, Hal accepted a call to serve in various ministry roles for the Florida Baptist Convention. Hal officially retired from the Southern Baptist Convention in 1995 but continued in ministry until the age of 81 in 2011.

Hal was a very gifted singer. Throughout his life, Hal would lead music for church services, special music for choirs, revival meetings as well as regional and statewide ministry conventions. He was also a gifted preacher sharing the gospel here at home and abroad. Hal was a member of Westview Baptist Church in Sanford, FL.

Hal’s wife, Mary Edythe Crane, preceded Hal in death, February 1, 2018. Hal is survived by his daughter Mary Jean Savoie (David Savoie, husband) and his son Maurice Samuel Crane (Wendy Crane, wife). Hal is also survived by 5 grandchildren, Michael Savoie, Rebecca Nordman (Erik Nordman, husband), Timothy Crane (Jennifer Crane, wife), Lydia Crane and Liam Crane, as well as four great-grandchildren, Dayln Savoie, twins Kaleb and Jacob Nordman, and soon-to-arrive baby girl Crane.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made either to the Gideons or to the Harold and Edythe Crane Scholarship Fund administered by Westview Baptist Church.

Funeral service held Saturday, July 8, 2023 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM at Westview Baptist Church, 4100 H E Thomas Jr Pkwy, Sanford, FL 32771. Committal service held Saturday, July 8, 2023 from 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734.