Obituary of David Alan Crane

10/5/1951 — 5/3/2024

David Alan Crane, 72, passed away at his residence in Biggs, CA after a valiant 8-year battle with prostate cancer. He was born in Oceanside, CA when his father was called back up during the Korean conflict. Raised in Live Oak, CA, he attended college at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, living several of those years in the “Crops House”, graduating in 1973 with a BS in Fruit Science.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Lynn; his daughter, Debbie (Bastian) Greschek and grandsons, Ferdinand and Johann David of Rottweil, Germany; his daughter, Heather Crane (Mike Kim) of San Diego; brother Stanley (Yvonne) of Salinas, CA; sister Kathleen (Earnie) of Rancho Cordova, CA; several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. His daughters were his world.

His father and mother, Raymond and Betty Ruth Crane preceded him in death.

David started his career as a pest control adviser in Oxnard, CA. While attending Chapel by the Sea he met his wife, and they were married in 1981. They moved back to Live Oak to the family ranch in 1983 where he farmed prunes, walnuts & persimmons for 35 years. For 22 years, he partnered with his very dear friends, Charlie Pfister and Gary Carlin to form CHGADA. He was the “DA” in the CHGADA. He was also a director for Sunsweet Dryers.

In his youth, he was an active member of Boy Scouts (Eagle Scout), Sea Explorers, and Order of the Arrow. He was a camp counselor at Glacial Trails, and attended the 1964 Jamboree in Valley Forge. He learned to fly and loved sailing. He loved the outdoors and camping. His other passions were model trains, woodworking (building many toys for his grandsons), photography, writing, geology and above all else was rowing his ocean scull on the afterbay of Lake Oroville, enjoying the solitude while photographing birds, foliage, sunrises and sunsets. For years, he was a part of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Gridley men’s Bible study. Almost daily, he joined special friends at the former Gridley Grille for coffee. He was a former member of Gridley’s Lion’s Club.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Altacal Audubon Society or Nature Conservancy in his name.

There will be a Celebration of Life at his residence in Biggs, Saturday, May 25th, 1-5 pm, with a special time of prayer and sharing from 2:30-3:30.

Arrangements entrusted to Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel.