Obituary: Lew Raney (1934-2013)

Lew Raney died Friday May 17, 2013.  The long-time resident of Palo Alto was 79 years old.

He was born on April 17, 1934 in Whittier, CA to Harry and Agnes Raney.  He graduated from UC Berkeley in electrical engineering in 1956, where he met the love of his life, Shirley Anne Stone. Shirley and Lew married in 1956 and spent
55 years together, traveling to Japan while Lew served in the US Navy, to Carmel, Hawaii, and Hong Kong. They settled in Palo Alto in 1960, where they raised their  two children Diana and Stephen.

A devoted and loving husband, he dedicated himself to Shirley as her full-time caretaker during the last 10 years of her life. To the end, he was vigorous, playful, and gentle, always ready with a big, hearty laugh.

Lew’s work with Singer Link in the defense industry pioneered a number of early simulation technologies, including simulators for flight training, for a  secret surveillance plane, and to train operators on avoiding nuclear power plant meltdowns. Later in his career, he worked on a number of early storage devices such as laser storage and data disc that Moore’s law has since shrunk. 

A life-long sports fan, Lew led his intramural football team to two championships at UC Berkeley and continued to play football in the annual holiday Mud Bowl with his son Steve and his friends from the Palo Alto High School Class of 1979. 

At 6’ 3 5/8” tall, he earned the moniker “Big Lew,” and was a constant fan on the sidelines of his granddaughter Emma’s soccer and basketball games, cross-country and track meets, and cheering at Cal football games with his son-in-law Kriss and grandson Brian while granddaughter Kristina played in the Cal band.

He is survived by his son Steve of Palo Alto, and three grandchildren, Kristina and Brian Smith, and Emma Raney. He was preceded in death by his wife Shirley and his daughter Diana Smith of El Dorado, CA. 

Memorial services were held at Trinity Church in Menlo Park on Wednesday May 29 at 3:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his  memory to the charity of your choice.

Obituary courtesy of the Raney family.