Betty Browder Crane
July 30, 1946-January 21, 2021
Betty Browder Crane passed away on January 21, 2021. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Tom Crane. Betty was the daughter of Marshall Rawlings Browder and Elma Haze Wright Browder, who predeceased her. She was also predeceased by her sister, Marcia Lynne Browder.
Betty enjoyed cooking, entertaining, caring for her flowers, and working with children. She volunteered at her church and children’s schools and enjoyed teaching pre-school.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by seven other blessings in her life – her children: Timothy Scott Crane, Kevin Michael Crane, and Melissa Crane Hyde, her son-in-law Robert Hyde and the loves of her life – her three grandchildren: Sophia Mandolyn Crane, Avery Haze Hyde, and Carter Thomas Hyde.
Betty is also survived by her sister-in-law, Kim Barnes, and her niece, Morgan Barnes.
Surviving her also are her in-laws, Stokes and Louella Crane, a sister-in-law, and three brothers-in-law, and many, many dear friends.
A celebration of Betty’s life will be held at Affinity Funeral Service, 2720 Enterprise Parkway, Richmond, VA 23294 at 2 PM on Saturday, January 30, 2021.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Skipwith United Methodist Church Backpack Ministry Fund, P. O. Box 32104, Henrico, VA 23294, or to any children’s ministry of your choice.
Click Here to Watch the Betty Browder Crane Memorial Service
Betty was such a dear person, and we shared so many childhood memories. Our mothers were sisters and we saw each other almost every weekend. To her family: She loved you all so much and was very proud of you. She will be missed but lives on through you. God Bless you all.
Betty and Tommy! The wedding and cousin that you always remember as a little cousin! I loved going to visit at her home place because it was the home of my Great grands.
Whenever we saw each other we just picked right up where we left off. Fly High Betty!
I will always remember Mrs. Crane’s sweet spirit and willingness to help others. She made my first year teaching at Lakeside one of my best years in education. She loved visiting her granddaughter Sophia and wanted to help our class in anyway she could. She was such a blessing and the students looked forward to her visits just as much as I did.
We were very happy when our son, Bob and Melissa married on June 26, 2004. We share two wonderful grandchildren, Avery and Carter with Tom and Betty. The four of us have enjoyed our grandchildren’s Baptism, birthdays, sport games, dance recitals, school events and family gatherings together for more than sixteen years.
Hank and I will miss Betty very much. She loved her family, Church and friends with great care and concern for all.
Betty and I were cousins (our dads were brothers). We grew up on farms right down the road from each other. We were about the same age (Betty was four months older) and I was always envious of her because she got to go to school a whole year before me.
We spent a lot of time playing together and on one occasion when we were about four years old, Betty came to visit and see some baby chicks my Mom had gotten. Like all little kids, we often tried to imitate our parents. Well, that day we decided we would do some canning. We stuffed about six or eight baby chicks into a quart jar. We were canning! We were soon found and the baby chicks were rescued. All were fine.
About two times a summer we would go with our families to Sunken Meadow on the James River for a day trip. (Our “vacation!”) We would have a picnic and spend the day playing in the water and sand. Good times!
After we finished high school, we both went away to more school, marriage and children. We didn’t see each other often but we stayed in touch. Betty would always come to visit my Mom and bring her kids when she came out to the farm. My Mom would always write or call to tell me about Betty. Betty was so proud of her family!
May we always remember Betty and all the happy memories!!
The Wagner and Small families send condolences to the Crane and Hyde families in the loss of Betty. I have greatly admired Betty for her service to Tucker High School where John attended with Melissa and lakeside Elementary where Benjamin attended with Sophia. She was always there at all the special activities. and volunteered for many of The projects. We will miss her a great deal.
Just as Sandra, I am a first cousin. And a few years older.. I lived just down the road from Betty and Sandra .. when we were younger with Sandra’s brother Warren we all played together and often got into trouble but had a lot of fun.. I. Remember Christmas Santa brought me what I thought was the most beautiful bride doll!! I wasn’t willing to share her with my cousins.. In the spring our house burned.. Betty told me if I had shared the doll it would have been at her house and would not have burned… I just still think of that often!!