Louise was born on July 10, 1909 in Dayton, Ohio. One month before she was born, her mother and father, Grace Cylestia Moore Sparrow and Thomas Sparrow, watched the Wright brothers fly over Dayton. Louise often mentioned the amazing changes she observed throughout her long life, from the milkman delivering his wares by horse and cart to the space shuttle, from the earliest days of radio and telephone to HDTV and the internet. She was an avid user of email and web surfing until the age of 100.
Louise’s father was a Boy Scout executive, and the family lived in Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Louise spent most of her summers in Boy Scout camp, where she met her future husband, Norton Crane, in Yorktown, VA in 1927.
Louise attended Carnegie Mellon University with a major in theatre, where she was friends with soon-to-be TV star Robert Cummings. She “coached plays on the road,” traveling from city to city helping amateurs put on fundraising productions.
In 1932 she married Norton Bailey Crane in what she called her “zoological wedding.” Her last name was Sparrow, Norton’s was Crane, her maid of honor was Sally Lamb, the minister was Rev. Buck, and the best man was Reed Gardner ( just to take care of the menagerie).
Louise had her own radio show, “Ask Lois.” She worked in the U.S. Office of Censorship during WWII, translating communications from Spanish into English.
She and Norton moved to Miami Springs, Florida, where son Bill was born in 1936. In 1946, the family moved to DawnOaks, their dream property near Goldenrod, Florida with 7 acres by beautiful Lake Dawn. Daughters Laura and Stephanie were raised there with horses, chickens, ducks, turkeys and even a few alligators.
1962 brought the family to Carlsbad, California where Norton opened an audiology office in Oceanside - and Louise became a Padres and Chargers fan.
Louise and Norton retired to San Diego where they used their outdoor knowledge as managers of the Campfire camp in Balboa Park. Many wonderful hours were spent exploring the camp by their grandchildren, Kristianne and Susanna Kurner and Jake Brown.
After Norton passed in 2001, Louise moved to Carlsbad to be near her family.
A life-long student of Edgar Cayce, Louise often attributed her long life to her faith and to positive thinking and gratitude.
Louise is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Dave Kurner, grandchildren Kristianne Kurner, Susanna Kurner, Jake Brown and wife Teresa of Flower Mound,Texas, and great-grandchildren Jonah Gercke and Aidan Brown. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Norton; and two of her children, Norton, Jr. (Bill) and Stephanie Brown (Teffa). Louise would want to thank her beloved caregiver Brenda Chandler and her friends and neighbors at Tyler Court for their many kindnesses.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, April 30 from 3-5pm at New Village Arts Theatre, 2787 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the New Village Arts Theatre or Camp Fire U.S.A.
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