Gerald L. Cronan, age 85, of Allen, Texas, passed away May 6, 2010, in Allen. Gerald was born March 14, 1925, in Reading, Pennsylvania, to Francis and Cecilia (Conroy) Cronan. He married Caroline Bowker on April 17, 1948, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Gerald and his brother owned a company called Fairfax Hydrocrane for eleven years. Much of his professional career was sales related positions in the wholesale electric industry. Gerald believed in always striving for the best as he was always improving his knowledge and experience. He epitomized his generation, the Greatest Generation, who following his service in the Coast Guard during World War II, helped to make America what it is today. Gerald was very skilled at repairing things and creating usable objects out of things some would consider unusable. He rebuilt two airplanes and enjoyed flying them; he also participated in an amateur radio club. He is survived by his wife Caroline Cronan; daughter, Loretta Warner and husband, Jack; sons, Ronald Cronan and fiancé, Kerry, Rick Cronan, and Rob Cronan and wife, Laurie; sister, Angela Martin and husband, Harold; grandchildren, Ben Arnette, Wayne Cronan, Pam Arroyo, Kira Glass, Dian Cronan, Megan Cronan, and Katie Cronan; and great-grandchildren, Ryan Jeanes, Ethan Cronan, and Adrian Arroyo. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Francis, Jr., Bob, Cecilia, John, Ed, Marion, and Bill. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Monday, May 10, 2010, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org.