Tillman Gilbert Crane Jr., 91, of Decatur, passed away on December 11, 2017. His visitation will be Friday, December 15, 2017 at Westminster Presbyterian Church from noon to 1 p.m. with the service to follow at 1 p.m. Burial will be in Decatur City Cemetery. Reverend Taylor Todd officiating. A Celebration of Life immediately following interment will be at Double Tree Hotel, Decatur.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Anne Coleman Crane; his brother, Dan McPheeters Crane and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tillman Gilbert Crane, Sr.
He is survived by son, Tillman (Donna) Crane, grandsons, Andrew and 2nd Lt. Jacob Crane, USAF of Camden, Maine; daughter, Beth (Glenn) Anderson, Punta Gorda, Florida, granddaughter, Katherine Anderson, Birmingham; daughter, Lee (Rip) Nabors, granddaughter, JoAnne Nabors (Matthew) Decker, great-granddaughter, Tallulah Elizabeth Decker, Boston, Massachusetts, grandson, Bill Nabors, Birmingham; son, Bailey Crane, granddaughters, Lorah (Matt) Guerin, Huntsville, Elizabeth Crane; great-grandson, Skyler Crane, Hazel Green, Margie Crane (Michael) Onder, great-grandson, Shepard, Toney and beloved sister-in-law, Shirley Braswell Coleman, Decatur, and many cherished nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Bill Nabors, Andrew Crane, 2nd Lt. Jacob Crane, USAF, nephews, John Pearce, Mac Crane and David Crane.
Honorary pallbearers are Paul Blackwell, John Duncan, Dr. John Irle, MD, nephews Hank Pearce, Brian Coleman and his Decatur Country Club Golf Group.
Tillman “Gil” Gilbert Crane, Jr. attended Riverside High School where he was a member of the band, sports writer for The Decatur Daily, and manager of the football team. Upon his graduation from Riverside he enlisted in the United States Navy for two years during World War II. After being Honorably Discharged from the Navy he attended Auburn University receiving a degree in Pharmacy. At Auburn he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He returned to Decatur and practiced pharmacy at Goidel Drug Store, Loyd’s Drug store, Baugh Wiley Smith Hospital and Med Surg Pharmacy. He was a member of the Rotary Club and he was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for 91 years, serving as an elder, Sunday school teacher and on many committees. His great passions in life were his beloved wife, family and golf.
Memorials may be given to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 801 Jackson St, Decatur, AL 35601 or American Macular Degeneration Foundation, PO Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515 or the organization of your choice.
