Terrell Tribune
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 1950
Old-Time County
Sheriff Dies In
Hospital Sunday

   W. R. Crane, a former officer of this section, died Monday afternoon in a Dallas hospital following a fall and other complications developed.  The body was brought to the Anderson-Clayton Bros. Funeral Home, where it will remain until the services in the First Methodist church in Kaufman at 4 p.m. Tuesday with Rev. Leland Spurrier and Rev. W. Harrison Baker officiating.
   Interment was in the Kaufman cemetery.  Active pallbearers were Ralph Roach, Bill Griffith, J. D. Stallings, Jack Russell, Joe Heffington, General Griffith and B. D. Jones.  Honorary pallbearers were Ed Legg, Dr. W. F. Alexander, Bud Russell, Jim Ables, Stanford Payne and Jim Yates.
   William Reuben Crane was born in Tippah, Mississippi on November 6, 1867.  He came to Texas early in his life and settled in Kaufman county.  His first public office was as constable of Elmo.  From that he went to work for the county as manager of the county farm, holding this position for six years.  In 1904 he was elected sheriff of Kaufman county and served this office until 1914.  He then joined the Texas prison system where his reputation for his kindness and consideration of the prisoners under his care spread all over Texas and surrounding states.  He retired at the age of 81 in 1948 and for the past year had resided in Grand Prairie.
   He was a member of the Methodist church.
   He married the former Miss Virginia Russell and is survived by his wife, six daughter, Mrs. O. D. Jones of Terrell, Miss Aerrah Crane of Grand Prairie, Mrs. Truman E. Weeks of Arlington, Miss Gilua Crane of Grand Prairie, Mrs. Joe Heffington of Dallas.  Mrs. G. L. Griffith of Grand Prairie, eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, other relatives and a wide circle of friends over the entire state.