Austin Cranford,

Austin Cranford, Sr. -Austin L. "Ozzie" Cranford, Sr. , 77, of
Eureka, IL passed away at 1:57a.m. on Sunday, January 26, 2014 at
OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL.


He was born on January 29, 1936 in Peoria, IL a son
of Austin L. and Mary L. Moran Cranford. He married Lois Lee Rhodes
on May 21, 1957 in Peoria, IL. She passed away on May 1,
2008.


Survivors include one daughter, Nancy(Mark) Thomson
of Green Cove Springs, FL; four brothers, George Cranford of
Peoria, IL; Virgil(Shirley) Cranford of Peoria Heights, IL;
Arthur(Lois) Cranford of Peoria Heights, IL; Robert(Linda) Cranford
of Bartonville, IL; one sister, Mary Colvin of Lacon, IL; nine
grandchildren; nine great grandchildren.


He was preceded in death by his parents,  two
sons, Bobby, Paul; two daughters, Tina, Miriam; and one brother,
David Cranford.


Austin was a welder at Caterpillar, Inc for 30 years
retiring in 1998. After retirement he worked for FS in Eureka,
IL.


He proudly served as an active duty member in the
United States Air Force and the United States Navy.


He was a lifetime member of American Legion Post
#466 in Eureka, IL; the VFW in Eureka and the UAW Local #974 in
East Peoria.


He was a proud supporter of the Chicago Cubs and
Chicago Bears.


He greeted everyone with a smile and a handshake and
considered you a friend. He loved raising the flag at the Eureka
High School and Eureka College Football games. He loved the
community he lived in and considered them family.


Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on
Thursday, January 30, 2014 at Argo-Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in
Eureka. Rev. Tom Zobrist will officiate. Visitation will be held on
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 from 4-7p.m. at Argo-Ruestman-Harris
Funeral Home in Eureka. Burial will be at Olio Township Cemetery in
Eureka where military rites will be accorded at the grave.


Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded
Warrior Project. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.

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