NORMAN — Charles Russell Crane Jr., 85, passed away Sunday, Jan 20, 2013, in Oklahoma City. Charles was born Jan. 19, 1928, in Mangum to Charles Sr. and Inez (Wade) Crane.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Havenbrook Funeral Home chapel, with interment following in the IOOF Cemetery in Norman.
Charles was born in Mangum and was raised in Tallant, Nelagoney and Barnsdall, graduating from Barnsdall High School in 1945. Charles enlisted in the United States Army in 1947, serving for 18 months as a paratrooper. Charles went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Oklahoma in 1951. He continued his education at OU, receiving his Master of Science in 1952, and then went to Florida State to obtain his Ph.D in 1956 in biochemistry.
While at Florida State, he met and married Jo Anne Phelps on Sept. 11, 1954, and they raised four children together in Norman. Charles was the chief toxicologist at the Civil Aeronautical Medical Institute for the FAA, retiring in 1988 after 27 years of service. Charles was a licensed pilot and loved flying small private planes. He enjoyed OU football, fishing, computers and teaching computers at the OKC Computer Club, Senior Network Users Group. Charles’ greatest joy was his children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Steven Russell Crane on Jan. 24, 1970; and one brother, Donald Crane on June 24, 1992.
Charles is survived by his one son, Mike Crane and wife Martha of Walhalla, S.C.; two daughters, Linda Fitter and husband Greg of Norman and Lisa Whitman and husband Ross of Spring, Texas; and their mother, Jo Anne McCarty of Norman; two brothers, James Crane of Barnsdall and Joe Crane and wife Charlene of Lawton; three sisters, Doris Hall of El Paso, Texas, Ella Swift and husband Jimmie of Barnsdall and Liana Bohnsack and husband Dan of Nowata; and eight grandchildren, Seth Fitter of Norman, Maddie Fitter of Norman, Ben Crane of College Station, Texas, Tucker Crane of Columbia, S.C., Anne Crane of Avalon, Calif., Jessica Strickland and husband Scott of Austin, Texas, Dylan Whitman of Spring, Texas, and Jake Whitman of Spring, Texas.
The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Havenbrook Funeral Home.
Arrangements for Charles and his family were placed in the care of the Vice family at Havenbrook Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com.
Norman Transcript, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013
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