LeRoy Crane

LeRoy "Roy" Crane passed away peacefully at home with his loving wife and family by his side on October 9, 2024. Roy was born on May 11, 1929 in Lansing, Michigan to his beloved parents Max and Lou (McNary) Crane.

Roy spent his childhood and high school days in Mount Pleasant, Michigan where he graduated with honors and was awarded nine athletic letters in football, basketball and track in High School. Roy was also awarded an athletic scholarship to play football for Michigan State University (MSU) where he played as fullback and served as team captain in his senior year. Roy earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and was also commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant for the United States Air Force through MSU ROTC. Roy was later inducted into the Mount Pleasant High School Athletics Hall of Fame for football.

After graduating from MSU, Roy was called to active duty where he entered the pilot training program at the Foster Air Force Base in Victoria, Texas where he earned his pilot wings and was soon assigned to air combat training in the North American F-86 Sabre in Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Upon completion of training, Roy was transferred to the Air Defense Command in Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan where he was stationed until ordered to serve in the Korean Conflict. While in combat in Korea, Roy flew the North American F-86 Sabre where he earned the National Service Medal, Korean Service Medal and United Nations Service Medal. After returning from Korea, Roy was stationed in Foster Air Force base in Texas where he flew the North American F-100 Super Sabre. When he was discharged from Texas, he still wanted to fly so he joined the Michigan Air National Guard in Battle Creek and he soon became a qualified pilot in the RB-57 in the air photo reconnaissance. Eventually in the recognition of his flying experience Roy trained and became qualified in the positions of flight leader, instructor pilot and standard evaluation check pilot. He served in these duties over time and eventually became assigned as the Air National Guard Base Commander in Battle Creek and was promoted to Colonel. Roy's next and last position in the Michigan Air Guard was as Commander, head quartered in Lansing, Michigan and retired as a Brigadier General serving as a military advisor to the Governor.

After retirement he lived in Arizona and Michigan enjoying all the travel in between; spending a lot of time working around the home and yard. What he really enjoyed was golfing with his Ole Football, Military and Michigan buddy's. Roy possessed a great outlook on life and love and had two favorite sayings "Maintain a Good Sense of Humor" and "Think Positive". Surviving Roy is his loving and caring wife Sandy whom he loved dearly and spent many happy years with. He also loved his three children, Sandra, Mayree-Kay and Gordon and four step-children, Debbie, Kenneth, Bryant and Richard and all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He surely will be missed by all.

The family will receive friends 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, October 13, 2024 at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed Care, Richland Chapel 9170 East D. Avenue (M-89) Richland, where services to celebrate Roy's life will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, October 14, 2024. Interment with full military honors will be held 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at the Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta. In lieu of flowers, memorials directed to the SPCA of Southwest Michigan (www.spcaswmich.org ) or the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org ), would be appreciated. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.