Curtis Grant Bane, age 84, passed away Tuesday, August 2, 2011. He was born on November 10, 1926 in Longford, Kansas. His parents were Dr. E. R. Bane and Beulah Smith Bane. He is survived by his sister, Ruth (Dr. Herschel) Stacey of North Platte, Nebraska; daughter, Nancy (Mike) Kruse of Pensacola, Florida; son, Timothy Bane of Panama City, Florida; grandchildren, Taylor Bane and Summer Bane of Lynn Haven, Florida; and special friend, Mary Sue Watts.

After graduating from high school, Curtis enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the Armed Guard as a gunner on a merchant tanker, making five crossings of the Atlantic Ocean. He later served aboard the destroyer escort, USS Ebert, in the Philippines and was discharged at Green Cove Springs, Florida, in November 1947.

Curtis attended the Missouri School of Mines, later transferring to Kansas State University where he received a Mechanical Engineering Degree. He began his civil service career in Panama City at the Navy Countermeasures Station in February 1955. He was employed in engineering assignments in a variety of projects until retirement in 1983 from the Naval Coastal Systems Center. He was later employed by defense contractors for several years.

He had a variety of interests and hobbies, spending much time fishing both fresh and salt water, metal detecting, hunting arrowheads, and coin collecting. He enjoyed traveling, camping in many areas of the southwest and visiting numerous national and state parks, truly appreciating the beauty of our land. Of all his interest, minerals and rocks were a lifelong passion. He was a rockhound, traveling many miles to various mines or shows to find one more rock. He enjoyed cutting and polishing stones and wirewrapping the beautiful mineral pendants. Curtis was the last of the three founders of the Panama City Gem and Mineral Society, which was formed in 1970. He had continued to be an active club member since that time.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Friday at Wilson Funeral Home, with Que Alldredge conducting. Visitation will be on Friday at 1 p.m., one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens.