Lonnie Richard Cranford

Lonnie Richard Cranford, age 67, of Asheboro, went peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, March 13, 2015 surrounded by family at his home, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Lonnie was born February 4, 1948 in Troy, NC to James Elton Cranford and Lucinda Irene Southern Cranford. His family lived in the Ophir, NC area until he was 12 years old. At the age of 12 his family moved to Asheboro and lived on what is now McCranford Road. The friends he made with the neighbors in that community lasted his lifetime. Lonnie graduated from Asheboro High School in 1966 and later attended Temple Junior College in Temple, TX. Lonnie volunteered for the draft in August of 1966. He was a Vietnam Veteran who served in A Company, 1st of 5th Mechanized, 25th Division at Cu Chi from January 1967 – January 1968 and was awarded the Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster and a Bronze Star Medal. He met his wife, Renette Snowden Cranford, while stationed at Ft. Hood, TX. They were married for 46 years. He is retired from the U.S. Postal Service with 30 years of service as a city letter carrier in Belton, TX. and Asheboro, NC. He treasured the friendships he made with co-workers and the people he served. He spent most of his free time fishing, gardening, and beekeeping. He loved to fish for bass and crappie. He loved planting a large garden and then sharing with neighbors and friends. When he retired at age 55, he started playing guitar and was an active part of the "Goodtimers" band until the last few months of his life and loved all the band members. Music was an important part of his life. He was a member of Hopewell Friends Meeting. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister Myrtle Ruth Cranford and two brothers, Melvin Cranford and Henry "H.A." Cranford. He is survived by his wife, Renette, son Glen Scott Cranford and wife Kenna of Seagrove, NC, daughter Jennifer Cranford Walker and husband Bruce Walker, Jr. of Burlington, NC, grandsons that he took pride in Elton Dale Cranford, Darren Cranford, Adrian Walker, and Dillon Walker; brothers David Cranford and wife Ruth, James Cranford and wife Frances, Roy Cranford and wife Sheila, Robert Cranford and wife Jan, and Rex Cranford and wife Alesia, sister-in-law Deloris Cranford. He is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins that he loved. The family would like to express thanks to Dr. James Abbruzzese and P.A. Evan Dropkin for their excellent care and to Hospice of Randolph for their support over the past two months. The family will receive friends Tuesday, March 17, 2015 from 6-8 PM at Pugh Funeral Home 437 Sunset Ave., Asheboro, and other times at his home. The celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday March 18, at Hopewell Friends Meeting, 2244 Hopewell Friends Road, Asheboro, NC. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be sent to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Ste. 200 Manhattan Beach, CA. 90266 or Lustgarten Foundation 1111 Stewart Ave. Bethpage, NY 11714.