William Rodgers Cranford

A Gentle Giant; Bookworm and News Hound went to his Heavenly Reward on May 2, 2025, at Arkansas Hospice/St Vincent. He was born April 15, 1940 in Bald Knob, AR to Ben and Rachel Cranford. He loved growing up in Bald Knob attending public school there until the family moved to Little Rock in his teens. He played basketball for Little Rock Central High and graduated in the historic 1957-58 school year. Central had a special place in his heart.

He is a graduate of Little Rock University where he earned a B.S. in Chemistry. His fraternity was Delta Kappa. He had an interesting job in college as a TV cameraman for KARK TV. His first job after graduation was with the US Food and Drug Administration out of the St. Louis office serving as an agent for 5 states. After his marriage to Rose Marie Kelley in June 1964 he enjoyed a 12 year career as an industrial chemist in Aberdeen, MS and Brownsville TN. As a child he had struggled with stuttering and promised God he would use his voice to glorify him if he could be healed. He was healed by his college years, and he fulfilled his promise; first as a public school science teacher for 19 years at Jackson Central-Merry High School in Jackson, TN and then as an ordained Catholic Deacon for 32 years serving 19 years in Jackson. Bill and Rose returned to Little Rock in 1996, and he served in both roles at Mount St Mary’s and as Deacon at Holy Souls. In Tennessee he has honored by Sigma XI, The Scientific Research Society, and received the Distinguished Teacher Award from the Tenn Academy of Science. He was a devoted and dedicated servant as Teacher and Deacon.

He is predeceased by his parents; his brothers Bob of Rector, AR and Wayne of Little Rock. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Rose. Their three children: Kent (Sarah) of Asheville, NC; Sam (Marilyne) of Bordeaux, France and daughter Kathleen Runder (Jeff) of Little Rock. Bill was a beloved and devoted husband; father; grandfather and great grandfather. He leaves behind six grandchildren: Beverly Cranford of New York City; Anais, Zoe, and Enzo Cranford of France; Rachel Runder of Kansas City, MO; Peter Runder (Blair)of Dallas and the first great grandchild, Waylon Runder. He also leaves a host of nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at the Cathedral of St. Andrew at 2:30 pm on Monday, May 5, 2025. Visitation will be at 2:00pm in the church prior to the funeral. Memorials may be made to Mount St. Mary Academy, 3224 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, AR 72205 or the Cathedral of St. Andrew (Restoration Fund) 617 Louisiana St. Little Rock, AR 72201. Special Thanks to the Excellent staff in the ER; CCU and Arkansas Hospice at CHI St. Vincent for being so kind.