One of the all-time best female bowlers from this area, Ginny Crane, died in North Port on May 27 at the age of 82.

Ginny joined the Sarasota Women's Bowling Association in 1974, and in 1993, she was inducted into that association's Hall of Fame for Bowling Ability.

In addition to her on-the-lanes prowess -- which included a 298 game in 1977 and consistent averages well above 180 in a much-lower scoring era -- she served two three-year terms as a SWBA director and one term as treasurer.

Prior to her move to Florida, Crane was a top-notch player in the Pittsburgh area, and she was elected to that area's Hall of Fame in 1981.

She was a member of the Pennsylvania state doubles championship team in 1962, and she won back-to-back local association all-events titles in 1969 and 1970.

She was also a member of the winning team in the Florida women's state tournament in 1979.

In addition to all that, she was a certified instructor, and she spent countless hours helping coach youngsters and being a true ambassador and promoter of the game she loved.

Ginny Crane will be long remembered and missed by the bowling community.

Crane, Virginia C
Jan. 15, 1927 - May 27, 2010

Virginia C. Crane, 83, of North Port and Sarasota, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pa., died May 27, 2010.
Services will be at a later date in Churchill, Pa.
Survivors include daughter Pamela J. Murray of Uniontown, Ohio; son Norman of North Port; sister Blanche Virgien of Connecticut; and three grandchildren.