Cropseyville - George Franklin Crandall, 77, a longtime resident of Cropseyville, died peacefully Saturday morning, October 7, 2017, at his residence with his family by his side following a brief illness.
Born May 23, 1940, in East Greenwich, (Washington Co.,) George was the son of the late George F. and Martha Genevra (Chapman) Crandall and for over 56 years the husband of Nancy E. “Laine” Crandall of Cropseyville, who survives. George and Laine were married on July 21, 1961.
As a boy, George walked to the local district one room school and later attended Troy High School.
At the age of 17 he enlisted in the United States Army. He earned his High School G.E.D. and attended both a carpenter and driver training technical school. During basic training he was singled out by his superior officers for his excellence in operating and maintaining all types of wheeled and tracked vehicles. After completing basic training and tech school, he was stationed in Europe, where he served as a support engineer and operated heavy equipment. After three years of service he was honorably discharged at the Fort Hamilton Army Base in NY on May 3, 1960.
For many years after, George worked as a driver and mechanic for many local businesses, including the former Republic Steel in Albany and the former Schillinger Blacktop Company in Albia. In the late 1980’s he started, and for over 15 years operated with his wife, Crandall Trucking, a long haul and over the road trucking company based in Cropseyville and Brunswick. He closed the trucking company in the early 2000’s. Most recently, George was employed as a mechanic and driver by S.N.K. Enterprises Inc., in Brunswick. After almost 12 years of service, George retired for the last time in 2012.
George enjoyed the hobbies of fishing and hunting in his beloved outdoors. In 1978, after friends asked him to care for several dairy goats while they vacationed for the winter, he and Laine found a new hobby and became dairy goat owners. George and Laine purchased and raised several goats of their own and became members of the Southern Vermont Dairy Goat Association in 2004. George served the Association as Vice President and trustee and had recently been nominated to serve as trustee again.
In addition to his wife, Laine, he is survived by a maternal aunt, Arlene Girard of Glens Falls, his children, Dawn and Marvin Towne of Georgia, William and Wendy Crandall of Cropseyville, Heather and Jack McMahon of Valley Falls, Lisa and Danny Joe McGinn of Arizona, George F. Crandall IV of Cropseyville, and Craig A. Crandall of Brunswick, his sisters; Arlene C. (Hunziker) Brandle of Valley Falls, Carol Faith Cushman of Pittstown, Judith A. Brod of Johnsonville, and Vonda G. Emory of Florida, 20 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. A sister, the late Frances Ruth Auenig, also predeceased him.
At George’s request, a private graveside ceremony will be held at the convenience of the family at Brookside Cemetery in Barbersville.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the Grafton Volunteer Rescue Squad, PO Box G, Grafton, New York 12082, in memory of George Franklin Crandall.
Born May 23, 1940, in East Greenwich, (Washington Co.,) George was the son of the late George F. and Martha Genevra (Chapman) Crandall and for over 56 years the husband of Nancy E. “Laine” Crandall of Cropseyville, who survives. George and Laine were married on July 21, 1961.
As a boy, George walked to the local district one room school and later attended Troy High School.
At the age of 17 he enlisted in the United States Army. He earned his High School G.E.D. and attended both a carpenter and driver training technical school. During basic training he was singled out by his superior officers for his excellence in operating and maintaining all types of wheeled and tracked vehicles. After completing basic training and tech school, he was stationed in Europe, where he served as a support engineer and operated heavy equipment. After three years of service he was honorably discharged at the Fort Hamilton Army Base in NY on May 3, 1960.
For many years after, George worked as a driver and mechanic for many local businesses, including the former Republic Steel in Albany and the former Schillinger Blacktop Company in Albia. In the late 1980’s he started, and for over 15 years operated with his wife, Crandall Trucking, a long haul and over the road trucking company based in Cropseyville and Brunswick. He closed the trucking company in the early 2000’s. Most recently, George was employed as a mechanic and driver by S.N.K. Enterprises Inc., in Brunswick. After almost 12 years of service, George retired for the last time in 2012.
George enjoyed the hobbies of fishing and hunting in his beloved outdoors. In 1978, after friends asked him to care for several dairy goats while they vacationed for the winter, he and Laine found a new hobby and became dairy goat owners. George and Laine purchased and raised several goats of their own and became members of the Southern Vermont Dairy Goat Association in 2004. George served the Association as Vice President and trustee and had recently been nominated to serve as trustee again.
In addition to his wife, Laine, he is survived by a maternal aunt, Arlene Girard of Glens Falls, his children, Dawn and Marvin Towne of Georgia, William and Wendy Crandall of Cropseyville, Heather and Jack McMahon of Valley Falls, Lisa and Danny Joe McGinn of Arizona, George F. Crandall IV of Cropseyville, and Craig A. Crandall of Brunswick, his sisters; Arlene C. (Hunziker) Brandle of Valley Falls, Carol Faith Cushman of Pittstown, Judith A. Brod of Johnsonville, and Vonda G. Emory of Florida, 20 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. A sister, the late Frances Ruth Auenig, also predeceased him.
At George’s request, a private graveside ceremony will be held at the convenience of the family at Brookside Cemetery in Barbersville.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the Grafton Volunteer Rescue Squad, PO Box G, Grafton, New York 12082, in memory of George Franklin Crandall.