James Calvin Crane was born May 28, 1926 to Dee Sprague Crane and Katharine Parsons Crane in Terra Alta, West Virginia and died February 13, 2014.
Jim graduated from Terra Alta High School in 1944. While attending there, he played football and basketball. He was married to Helen Bolyard in 1944. On October 13, 1945 Jim enlisted in the armed services and after basic training served with the Army Air Corps. He was a Private First Class with the 120th Air Communications Service Squadron. He was trained as a cryptographer and served in Alaska until his discharged on September 27, 1946.
Jim returned to West Virginia and began working in the banking industry from 1946 thru 1953. In 1954, Jim joined the Preston County Light and Power Company where he became President in 1959. Preston County Light and Power was the only company in the United States that was a combination electrical and telephone service. He was very active in the communication community and served as President of the West Virginia Independent Telephone Association in 1964. Jim also founded WFSP radio station and Mountain State Cable Company. Jim joined Ruby Enterprises in 1973 as Executive Vice President and retired in 1975.
Jim moved to Florida in 1975 where he married Deloris (Tudy) Lambert. After 5 years of retirement and travel, he became involved with Darcon, Inc. which he later bought and operated until it closed in 2002. Jim retired (again) to enjoy his later years with his bride.
Jim is survived by his wife of 39 years, Deloris; two sons, Allen and Doug and his wife, Lynne; daughter, Carol and her husband, Michael; 8 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Private services will be held. He will be missed greatly by all of his family!
Interment will be at Bay Pines National Cemetery.
Please sign the guestbook below.
Jim is greatly missed by us all. Love to all.
My sweet Pop Pop. You will continue to live in my heart. I keep reminiscing about all the fun we all had together and try to use that strength to get me through this hard time. You were a wonderful man that I am honored to call my grandfather. I miss you terribly.
Pop Pop will certainly live in our hearts and minds forever. He was one impressive man! What he was able to accomplish in his life and to be surrounded by a family that loved him. I will never forget stories he shared. Always a great sense of humor and with a smile on his face he made us all laugh. I have faith that I will see you again and look forward to a great story. You always made me Proud to call you Grandfather!