[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1545-E1547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    DR. GEORGE WASHINGTON CRANE III

                                 ______


                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 28, 1995
  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, last week my father, who celebrated his 94th 
birthday last April, passed away in his sleep. Mercifully, he did not 
undergo the pain and suffering at the end that so many go through 
before shuffling off this mortal coil.
  I missed 2 days of legislative business to attend his funeral which 
filled me with mixed emotions. The first, of course, was sadness over 
losing my father, who was an idol to all of us kids in the family. But 
I take comfort in the conviction that we will all be reunited in time 
and that a lifetime is but a wink of the eye in eternity.
  The second emotion I experienced was joy over the opportunity to 
visit with family, relatives, and friends, many of whom I had not seen 
personally in years. It was a touching family reunion. And I'm 
convinced my father was experiencing joy in heaven through a family 
reunion there with all who preceded him.
  The eulogy for my father was delivered by Dr. E. Duane Hulse, who 
married a close 

[[Page E 1546]]
cousin of mine when I was in high school. Dr. Hulse is a retired 
Methodist pastor. Ironically, he delivered the eulogy 39 years ago for 
my older brother, George IV, a marine pilot who was killed in a mid-air 
at Glenview, IL.
  I would like to share with colleagues and friends the eulogy Dr. 
Hulse delivered. And I would like to express to colleagues and friends 
deep appreciation for their thoughtful words of condolence.
                Memorial Service for Dr. George W. Crane

                        (By Dr. E. Duane Hulse)

       Today we honor a faithful husband, a loving father, a 
     doting grandfather, and an exceptionally talented applied 
     psychologist and physician, and one of the finest exponents 
     of the basic tenets of Christianity I have ever known.
       He was adviser to millions of Americans, who eagerly 
     grabbed their newspapers with their morning coffee to dote on 
     his every word. He was called by Reader's Digest, ``the maker 
     of happy marriages.''
       Pearl and I share with the other members of the Crane 
     family, this great personal loss. For this dear man had more 
     influence on our lives than any other single individual in 
     this world.
       The scriptural words which seem appropriate today are those 
     of another Christian veteran, who came to the close of his 
     life and said, ``The time of my departure has come, I have 
     fought the fight * * *, I have finished the race, I have kept 
     the faith.'' (II Timothy 4:6-8)
       Yes, this modern Sunday School teacher, who rarely missed 
     church in his life time, kept the faith admirably like the 
     Apostle Paul, who travelled hither and yon about the 
     Mediterranean world.
       People today are like Paul. They are on the move. We are a 
     mobile population. The Crane family used to move almost every 
     weekend and all summer from 7457 Coles Ave., Chicago (the 
     relative's Motel) to the Coach in Hillsboro. We are still a 
     mobile society.
       Also, we change physically with these moves, with every 
     cell in our body changing every 7 years. This arm I have here 
     is not the same one I had 7 years ago. I know it's not as 
     good on the tennis court as it was 7 years ago.
       We change socially and spiritually as well. So, we might 
     well ask, ``What are you keeping?'' Like the Apostle Paul, 
     Dr. George Crane was exemplary in Keeping and Promulgating 
     the Christian gospel.


                                   i

     First, he was brought up in the faith
       He went to church and Sunday School every Sunday, whether 
     he wanted to or not. His mother, Jen, saw to that. It was not 
     a debatable issue. He read his Bible repeatedly, learned it 
     well, and applied it's teachings all his life.
       He kept faith with his wife, Cora. They met at Epworth 
     League meetings. It was their common faith that first drew 
     them together.
       Dr. George never made a major decision in his adult life 
     without consulting Cora first. Sometimes it was just a 
     glance. Other times it was a long conversation late at night, 
     on the way back from making a speech in another state. Cora 
     was his constant companion on his
      speaking tours. They loved each other, they counselled each 
     other. It was indeed a marriage made in heaven.
       Dr. George and Cora were our earliest role models. We 
     idolized them and tried to pattern our lives after them. We 
     often sought their advice around the long table with the 
     checkered table cloth, as we shared a ``little caffeine 
     stimulation''.


                                   ii

     Secondly, he kept faith with his children
       When parents bring children into the world, that too, is a 
     venture of faith. They cannot know whether they will bring 
     honor or shame to the family. The parents venture on faith.
       On the other hand, the children cannot know whether the 
     parents will keep the faith with them. They may disappoint 
     them or forsake them.
       The poet Gillilan said of this father:

     He was my own until I fully knew
     And never could forget how deep and true
     A father's love for his own son may be.
     It drew me nearer God Himself, for He
     Has loved His son. These are but grateful tears
     That he was with me all those happy years.

       Dr. George's faith in his progeny never wavered and they 
     never failed him. They never forsook his teachings. He taught 
     them the virtues of life by precept and example. He taught 
     them fortitude by taking moving pictures of them when he gave 
     them their shots, so they would look brave when they were 
     shown at the next family gathering. Then these inventive 
     young rascals turned the tables on their father by insisting 
     they give him a shot with the needle, so he could show his 
     bravery on camera. And these dear children have been honoring 
     him with their lives ever since.


                                  iii

     Thirdly, he kept faith with his country
       He volunteered to serve his country in the armed services 
     in World War II, but he was advised he could do more good as 
     an editorial writer. That he did.
       In my humble opinion, he was the greatest single 
     psychological motivator in this century. All over the United 
     States, Americans looked to his newspaper columns for advice 
     on now to solve the problems of every day living.
       He was praised highly, but sometimes he was disbelieved, 
     for he was 50 years ahead of his time in his thinking. 
     Consider this,
      thirty years ago he actually advocated running Clark Gable 
     as a candidate for Vice President. First: he claimed the 
     party would get a million dollars worth of free publicity. 
     Secondly: the party would get a majority of the female 
     votes. But, who ever heard of running a movie star for a 
     national office? I rest his case.
       I know, those of us who loved him sometimes called him 
     affectionately ``old sea salt'', but today in Florida, I 
     often run my boat out into the gulf to satisfy my friends 
     requests for sea water so they get their daily trace 
     minerals.


                                   IV

     Fourthly, he kept faith with his Lord and the United 
         Methodist Church
       Methodist born and Methodist bred, he stayed a Methodist 
     all his life. He spent over 30 years teaching the Arthur 
     Dixon Bible Class at the Chicago Methodist Temple. He filled 
     pulpits all across America.
       He was ever the minister's friend. To a minister who was 
     disheartened and disappointed in his career, he brought new 
     hope. ``If you will follow my anecdotal formula, following 
     the example of Jesus, and use three illustrations, name three 
     parishioners in each sermon, I will guarantee that you will 
     be asked to return and get a salary raise next year.'' To the 
     surprise of the neophite theologs, it happened just that way.
       His charity was mostly unknown, but believe me, not 
     unappreciated. Every Christmas, while Pearl and I were 
     struggling to get through Seminary, that familiar envelope 
     arrived and was pinned on our Christmas tree--the tuition 
     money for the next semester, a check signed by George and 
     Cora. We couldn't have made it otherwise.
       Okan Esset reads a Crane column in Africa on a piece of 
     newspaper used for packing, writes to Dr. Crane for help, and 
     then comes to the U.S.A. to complete his Medical Training--
     those checks kept coming.
       For years it was well known that any money raised for the 
     church Youth Camp Scholarships would be matched by the 
     Cranes.
       This man also had a way with the English language. He had a 
     way with words. His vocabulary was fabulous. We all enjoyed 
     his table talk. Listening was like taking a course in 
     elocution. He had many memorable phrases: ``it takes a live 
     wire in the pulpit to electrify a congregation. A physician 
     should explain his medicine. I want to feel important.'' 
     Remember: ``A person's interest in anything is in inverse 
     proportion to its distance from his own epidermis.''
       He could look at any complex interpersonal situation, 
     analyze it, and come up with a diagnosis that would turn your 
     thinking 180 degrees.
       I remember visiting Sun City, Florida with Dr. George, when 
     he was campaigning for Phil. At that time, I had envisioned 
     Sun City as the ideal retirement situation, with swimming 
     pools, golf courses, wood working shops, art courses, etc. 
     Dr. George spent a short time with these retired executives 
     and their wives. On the way back, he said to me, ``What a 
     waste of trained brains.'' ``What did you say, George?'' I 
     asked. ``What a waste of trained brains.''
       He was right! Why should a retired executive spend his 
     later years building wind mills and bird feeders, when he 
     could be helping some young business person by sharing his 
     expertise with SCORE, or some similar organization.
       Retirement was one word missing from his vocabulary. It was 
     not psychologically acceptable to him.
       George started life with a God fearing mother and he 
     followed her example religiously. When he returned from 
     Church and Sunday School, he was quizzed by his Biblically 
     literate mother on the day's lesson. His interest in 
     Scriptural characters was fired up early in life, and he 
     continued in that bent all his life.
       Yes, he kept the faith until the end. It was a realization 
     that a greater power was behind his life that gave him 
     courage, that kept a song in his heart, a light in his eyes, 
     and made him expendable for the kingdom of God.
       That was the great conviction that kept him going for 94 
     years, but his great humanitarian life is not over. His 
     influence will last for many years to come, through his 
     writing and those lives he has touched.
       Dr. George loved family reunions. He gloried in them. He 
     loved socializing, verbalizing compliments, eating home 
     cooked food, and telling anecdotes. So, let me tell you 
     something which I firmly believe.
       There is a great reunion taking place today in heaven. Cora 
     Ellen and George IV are waiting at heaven's gate to welcome 
     home the great applied psychologist.
       Aunt Bess has been cooking for hours in anticipation of his 
     arrival. I can smell the fried chicken in the old black cast 
     iron skillet. In the oven is her famous, made from scratch, 
     chocolate cake with carmel icing. No one has been able to 
     match it since she died. I can still taste it.
       Jamie is dancing with joy, Uncle George has been out all 
     morning gathering sponge mushrooms on cloud nine, Uncle Vick 
     is laboring over the treasurer's book wondering if they are 
     spending too much of the Lord's money on this homecoming and 
     Aunt Jen is orchestrating the whole affair.

[[Page E 1547]]

       I almost wish I were there, but I can wait my turn. I can 
     wait, because there is something I know for sure. I want to 
     share it with you today:
       The Christian never says ``good bye'' for the last time. I 
     believe this is the most meaningful and heart warming thought 
     I can leave with you today.
       I know it is a sad day for all of us.
       Yes, I remember when we said, ``So Long George IV''.
       So today, we say ``So Long Dr. George''. But, my Christian 
     friends, ``The chariot's a'commin' ''.
       So, no last ``good byes'', not for Christians. As Lowell 
     Thomas used to say, ``So long until tomorrow.''
     

                          ____________________