David D. Cranford, 89, of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, May 5, 2016, at Plum Creek Healthcare Community in Lexington.

He was born October 31, 1926 in David City, Nebraska, to Earl and May (Tichacek) Cranford. He lived his early years in Linwood, Nebraska before moving with his family to Lexington, Nebraska in 1935. He graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1945.

David entered the United States Army during WWII on December 19, 1945, and after going to artillery school in Oklahoma and Kentucky, he was sent to Occupied Japan. After his honorable discharge on February 4, 1947, he began custom farming with his brother, Dick, in the Lexington area. They also did custom haying and had a combine and truck they took to Texas and back for the wheat harvest. In the early 1970’s he acquired his own farm and continued to farm until 1995 when he retired. He continued to live on the farm until the last few weeks when illness required him to enter primary care.

Dave enjoyed motorcycles and coin collecting as a young man and then enjoyed fishing later on in life. But, his true love was farming.

Dave is survived by two nieces, Denise Kearney and Dee Crozier, and three nephews, Dana Crawford, Morry DeLap, and Merrill DeLap.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and May Cranford; sisters, Fay DeLap and Phyllis Cranford, and his brother, Dick Cranford.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Chapel in Lexington with Reverend Polly Deppe-Williams officiating.

There will be no visitation.

Memorials are suggested to the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department.

Interment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery with Military Honors.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is assisting the family with arrangements. To share online condolences with the family, please visit: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.