Billie Ray Crane

Billie Ray Newman Crane flew West to be with his pilot friends on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Arkansas City, KS. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Shriners Children’s Hospitals. Donations may be left in the care of the Shelley Family Funeral Home.

Bill was born to Raymond and Francis (LeClair) Newman on March 9, 1944, in Arkansas City. He graduated from Ark City High School in 1962, where he was a member of the AC band and Spanish club. Bill joined the United States Air Force in 1963 and attended Yale University for East Asian Languages and Literature, where he learned to speak Chinese. His tours of duty included the Philippines, Monkey Mountain, Vietnam, and his last duty station was Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. While on leave in Arkansas City after returning home from Vietnam, he met the girl he would marry. Bill and Martha Grainger were married on June 9, 1967. They were married for 58 years. Bill worked for his stepfather, Gene Crane, at Crane Auto Parts for several years and then went to work for Cessna. He attended the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and obtained his Air and Power Licenses and Commercial Pilot Certification. He then taught at Spartin for several years before returning to Cessna. Bill did international training for Cessna for many years before his retirement. Bill collected antique cars and enjoyed traveling with his wife. He was a member of the Mulvane Masonic Lodge 201 and served as Master, Midian Shriners, and Quiet Birdmen, Wichita, Kansas.

Bill is survived by his wife, Martha, and nieces and nephews, Shannon, Jimmy, Monica, Stephanie, Marc, Stacy, Jimmy, Ronnie Jr., Patty, and Elaine. He is preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Janice and Joyce.