William “Bill” Fredrick Crone, age 93 of Bowling Green, Ohio, passed away peacefully on February 5, 2023, surrounded by family and friends. Bill was born on May 3, 1929, at Bixby Hospital to William H. and Clara M. (Knoblouch) Crone of Adrian, Michigan. At the age of three, his family moved to Montpelier, Ohio, where he graduated from Montpelier High School in 1947. He was very active in athletics, having received three letters in high school football and four in track and field. He was also active in the Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Bill excelled academically in high school and did well on Ohio Scholarship tests in General Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Advanced Algebra. He also placed in the State of Ohio in General Scholarship for High School Seniors. Bill was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland but due to an eyesight issue, instead, chose to attend Bowling Green State University.
Bill received a B.S. degree in Biology from Bowling Green State University and then went on to earn a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toledo. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and was later named a member of the Golden Falcons. During this time, he met his future wife, Jacqueline Sue Cather. They were married in 1951 and made Bowling Green their home. She proceeded him in death on February 3, 2004. Bill worked at LOF / Pilkington Glass as an Electrical Engineer and Plant Manager where he was commonly referred to as “Doc.” He retired in 1992 after 40 years with LOF.
Bill was active in the Bowling Green community, having served on the Board of Education and the City’s Utilities Commission. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he was an ordained Elder and served on the financial committee. He was proud of his work on the committee to restore the Church’s vintage stained-glass windows. Bill was also a Freemason. He enjoyed reading, cooking, and spending time with his family and with his sweetheart, Nancy Gengnagel.
Bill is survived by his five children, Rebecca Rupert (Chuck Holloway) of Bloomington, IN; Michael (Pat) Crone of Malaga, NJ; Susan Rupert (Bill Rode) of Westminster, CO, Amy (Sam) Reed of Pickerington, OH, and Brad (Lisa) Crone of Westerville, OH. He also had seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff at St. Vincent Hospital ICU in Toledo, Mercy Hospital in Perrysburg and Hospice of Northwest Ohio for the exceptional care they provided to Bill during his journey.
Family and friends will be received at the Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home, 1460 West Wooster Street, Bowling Green, OH on Friday, February 10, 2023, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at 10:30 AM at First Presbyterian Church, 126 S Church St, Bowling Green. Burial will follow the funeral service at Butler Cemetery in Butler, Indiana.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Presbyterian Church, Bowling Green with Bill Crone written in the memo line.
To leave an on-line condolence or share a fond memory with the family, please visit Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home at www.hannemanfuneralhomes.com.
