William H. Crandall, son of W. H. and Martha L. Greene Crandall, was born June 21, 1865, near Walworth, Wis., and died February 23, 1944, at his home in Walworth.
On January 10, 1889, he married Miss Ada Humphrey in Fulton, Wis. This year they celebrated their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary. For two seasons after their marriage they lived on a farm on Big Foot Prairie. In the fall of 1890 they moved to Milton Junction, and a year later Mr. Crandall decided to study for the ministry and went to Alfred, N. Y., where he began studies in Alfred University. While working his way through school he lost his eyesight and was forced to give up his ministerial studies. In July, 1895, he returned to Walworth, and three years later became director of the Crandall Funeral Home, adding furniture to the business in 1900. He carried on the business for about twenty-five years. Later he went to Milton, where for several years he had a funeral home. About three years ago Mr. and Mrs. Crandall returned to Walworth.
In early life Mr. Crandall united with the Walworth Church. Later he was a member of the Seventh Day Baptist churches at Milton Junction, Alfred, and Milton, and again at Walworth. It was a great disappointment to Mr. Crandall to give up his chosen life work, and for nearly fifty years not to see the beauties of God's heaven and earth and the faces of friends and kindred. But with the help of God he did not give up to disappointment and despair, but filled his mission in life well. He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Mrs. Luen Lippincott; two sons, Roy of Chicago, and Lester of Walworth; a sister, Mrs. Nellie Babcock, and a brother, George Crandall of Walworth; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three step-grandsons and a step-great-granddaughter.
Funeral services were held in the Walworth church on Sunday afternoon, February 27, conducted by Rev. Willard D. Burdick of Milton, assisted by Rev. Harold O. Gronseth of Walworth and Rev. John F. Randolph of Milton Junction. Kenneth Babcock of Milton sang "Lead, Kindly Light" and "No Night There." Burial was in the Walworth cemetery.
W. D. B.
