Ivan "Gene" Croft, retired Certified General Motors auto repair technician and WWII Navy Veteran, passed away October 10, 2018 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Gene was 93 years of age.

Gene, as he was known, was born August 16, 1925 in the home of his parents, Frank "Speck" and Emma (Ready) Croft on south Jennings Street in Anthony, Kansas. Gene was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Margie, who passed on May 3, 2009 and also his parents, Frank "Speck" and Emma Croft; brothers: Hartsel Dwight Croft and wife, Marie, Bennie Lee Croft and wife, Alberta, and infant brother, Bobby Croft; sisters: Reta Mae VanBuskirk and husband, Doyle, Geneva Cleo Kaup and husband, Hershel; brothers-in-law, Blondie Reymer, Levi, Jack, Richard and Bob Helms, Robert Rishell and Milton Davis; sisters-in-law, Valera Davis, Alretta Helms and Mary Helms; great-great granddaughters: Addison and Allison Schrant; and son-in-law, Gary Wayne George.

Gene is survived by his sister, Betty Reymer of Anthony; son, Dick Croft and wife, Lois (Cook) Croft of rural Clearwater, KS; daughter, Diana (Croft) Hernandez and husband, Javier Hernandez of Columbus, Nebraska; grandchildren: Debbie (Croft) Gerstenkorn and husband, Jamie Gerstenkorn of Woodway, TX, Vicki (Croft) May and husband, Jason May of rural Conway Springs, KS, Angela (George) Gutierrez and husband, Michael Gutierrez of Fort Worth, TX, Rebecca (Benson) Schrant and husband, Kelly Schrant of Columbus, NE, and Nicholas Hernandez and wife, Jordan of Merriam, KS; great-grandchildren: Emily Gerstenkorn of Woodway, TX, Allyson (May) and husband, Corey Heimerman, Trevor May and wife, Laura (Schmitz) May, and Taylor May, all of rural Conway Springs, KS, John Emery and friend, Bailey of Valley Center, KS, Selena Gutierrez of Fort Worth, TX, Tyler Schrant and wife, Tylin and Dustin Schrant and wife, Emily, all of Columbus, NE, and Maxwell Hernandez of Merriam, KS; great-great grandchildren: Barrett, Carson, Emmett and Greyson Schrant of Columbus, NE, Lacy Bylan, Brooklynn and Evelynn Emery of Wichita, KS and Lilly May of Conway Springs, KS.

Gene is also survived by sisters-in-law: Minnie Helms of Anthony, Nancy Helms of Hutchinson and Lucille Rishell of Boise, ID; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and many, many friends.

Gene attended Anthony Schools up to his freshman year in high school. He enjoyed all sports and won many ribbons and awards for basketball, track and field events, etc. He spent his entire life in and around Anthony, except about 1 1/2 years working in Oregon, prior to joining the US Navy, and time spent in the South Pacific as a Seaman 1st Class in the US Navy during WWII. About 1942, he went to Oregon with his father and older brother, Dwight, in hopes of employment. Gene ended up enlisting in the US Navy at McMinnville, Oregon on the 22nd November 1943, at the age of 18. He received about 4 weeks basic training at Bremerton, Washington and Farragut, Idaho. After basic training he was attached to the newly commissioned ship, USS Orca AVP 49, a seaplane tender. The Orca soon sailed out of Bremerton, WA on a shakedown cruise to San Diego, CA, where she was outfitted and supplied for service in the South Pacific as part of the 7th Pacific Fleet. Gene was later assigned to the USS San Carlos, AVP 51, a seaplane tender, and sister ship to the USS Orca. Gene served through the end of the war experiencing and surviving the full force, ferocity, and determination of the Empire of Japan throughout the South Pacific and around the Philippine Islands. At war's end the USS San Carlos sailed back to the US West Coast. Gene was then given a temporary leave to return home to Anthony until his term of enlistment was up. While at home on this leave on December 1, 1945, Gene married the first and only love of his life, Miss Margie Lee Helms, daughter of Callie and Stella Helms of Anthony. Gene and Margie were married in Wellington, Kansas. He and Margie always said their marriage was a perfect match and they always felt blessed for each other, their children, family and friends.

Gene was an auto mechanic/technician for approximately 55 years. He operated the Standard Oil Company Gas Station on East Main Street in Anthony. Afterward, he was employed by Roach Chevrolet/Oldsmobile dealership in Anthony and in later years, he owned and operated his own businesses, Croft Auto Repair and Croft Sharpening Shop.

Gene never met a stranger. He was always quick to strike up a conversation with anyone and would tell of his family and his fishin'. He enjoyed spending time with family, fishing a lot, hunting game birds with his bird dogs, fishing a lot, raising one of the largest vegetable gardens in Anthony, (giving away a lot of the produce), taking his family on vacations to almost every state in America and into Mexico and Canada, fishing a lot! Gene could be described as: kind, loving, tolerant, an excellent fisherman, wise, honest, reliable, funny, ornery, and excellent fisherman, loyal, generous, stable as a rock mountain, he had a conservative point of view, a simple man that took great pleasure and pride in the simplest things in life, and he was an excellent fisherman! He was a wonderful man, husband, father, grandpa, uncle, cousin and friend. Gene was a very family oriented man and loved all his family unconditionally. Family members could always depend on Gene for any help, encouragement, and love, anytime they needed him he was always there for them. Gene always managed to put a smile on your face and contributed to lifting many sad and heavy hearts to an elevated level of brightness. Gene will certainly be missed by all who knew him! He will be gone physically but will remain in all our hearts and memories forever.

Memorial service will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 13, 2018 at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony with Brandon Gerber officiating. Inurnment will follow at Forest Park Cemetery, Anthony.

Friends may sign the register from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday at Prairie Rose in Anthony.

Memorials in memory of Gene may be made to the Anthony Community Care Center and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003, is in charge of arrangements.