OB - Madge Looney Crane
Date 2010/8/3 15:00:00 | Topic: Obituaries
| Madge Crane
August 3, 2010
Parkersburg News & Sentinel
Madge Crane, 95, of Waterford, Ohio, died at 1:45 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2, 2010, peacefully in her home with her family after a courageous 33-year fight against bladder cancer and the last few years with chronic lung disease.
She was born on Jan. 14, 1915, at Tariff, Roane County, W.Va., daughter of Isaiah Daniel and Elsie Carper Looney, both descendants of Revolutionary War patriots. She attended Glenville College, where she met her future husband, Dwight M. Crane. She later graduated from Salem College with an A.B. degree. She took additional hours at Marietta College, where she was privileged to be in one class with her granddaughter, LaDonna. Her last college hours were completed at Ohio University.
Madge and Dwight Crane were married on Dec. 28, 1936, at Oakland, Md. They raised registered Angus cattle on their farm near Harrisville, and their sons showed prized feeder cattle at Jackson's Mill while in 4-H and FFA. Dwight was drafted in 1944 while teaching at one room Mitchell School in Ritchie County, W.Va., and due to a shortage of teachers, Madge took over his school. Family members have been told many stories about the 3 mile walk each way to and from school with her oldest son, Bill, through the fields and up the dirt roads. These walks helped instill a life-long love of animals (especially birds) and flowers which she spotted along the way. This was a very rough time because she had to raise two boys, teach, and manage the farm.
After Dwight returned in 1946 from serving in the Philippines and Korea, the family settled down on a 220 acre farm, raising large gardens, canning, butchering, and doing all the other jobs that go with farming. Almost all the time there were over 100 Angus grazing the pastures on the Crane farm.
In 1961 the Cranes left the farm and moved to Waterford. They found one school, Watertown Elementary, where there were two openings, Madge taught fifth and sixth grade and Dwight taught seventh and eighth grade. It was a happy decision, since they could now travel during the summer months. Madge saved the best work of her students during the year, which she showed (a full booth) at the Waterford Fair for 25 years. They taught 14 years when Dwight died suddenly. The Watertown community was very supportive and comforting during this time. Madge continued teaching at Watertown, but at times it was very difficult because so much about the school reminded her of Dwight. In appreciation for her work with students, the Fair Board chose her as Parade Marshal of the Waterford Fair the year she retired (1986), an honor she valued highly. All totaled her teaching career spanned 54 years, although with time off to raise her family, she taught 37 years. She taught in three states (Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio). Her first three schools (Indian Creek, Lewis County, Ky.; Triplett and Knight in Roane County, W.Va.) were one room. Her next school (Amma, Roane County) had two rooms. Mitchell had one room. Ellenboro (Ritchie County, W.Va.) had several rooms. Watertown (Ohio) had four rooms.
Madge belonged to the Waterford Methodist Church, where she served on the missionary board for many years, Mt. Moriah 506, Eastern Star, Delta Kappa Gamma, Life Member of Ohio Retired Teachers, D.A.R. Marietta Chapter, Roane County Historical Society, Society of Boonesborough, and a charter member of the Lower Muskingum Historical Society. She was in Literacy Volunteers for three years. With her son, Phillip, she co-authored a family history on their ancestor, Robert Looney, and a second book about his 10 known children. She traveled extensively in the U.S. and to Europe with a teacher tour in 1979, visiting eight countries.
She is survived by three sons, William C. Crane and wife, Sharon, of Pullman, W.Va., George E. Crane and special friend, JoAnn Silliman, of Georgetown, Texas, and Phillip L. Crane and wife, Teresa, of Waterford, Ohio; five granddaughters, LaDonna (Randy) Sarie of Charleston, Anita (Don) Shumake of Parkersburg, Charlene (Tom) Tuttle of Charleston, S.C., and Judy (Joel) St. Amant and Jessica Crane of Georgetown, Texas; two grandsons, Col. William E. (Tina) Crane of Charleston, W.Va., and Dwight Daniel Crane of Waterford; great-grandchildren, Ryan Shumake, Tommy and Sam Tuttle, Nicole, Derek, and Joshua Crane, Catherine, Elizabeth, and Margaret Saria, Laura Blakeman, and Evan St. Amant; one sister, Merle (Bill) Noble of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; sister-in-law, Velma Looney of Aiken, S.C.,; and several nieces nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her father in 1973; her mother in 1997; her husband; three brothers, Charles, William and Robert Looney, and two sisters-in-law, June Looney and Erma Looney.
Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at the Waterford Methodist Church by the Rev. Russell White. Burial will be in Waterford Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at McCurdy Funeral Home, Beverly, Ohio.
The family asks that donations be sent to the Beverly-Waterford Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 146, Waterford 45786 or Marietta Hospice, 210 N Seventh St., Suite 400, Marietta, OH 455715.
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