James O. Cranford

Lt. Col. James Oral Cranford, USMC (Ret.) age 79, of Orlando, passed away after a short but courageous fight with lung cancer on Friday, April 27, 2012. Lt.Col. Cranford was born on April 1, 1933 in Allen, Oklahoma to Bertie O. and Eunice Means Cranford. James graduated from Ada High School, Class of 1951. He was named to the All-State Baseball Team. He graduated from East Central State College in Ada with a B.S. of Science in Education in 1955. He was a three sport letterman and received the Most Outstanding Athlete Award for 1954-55. He married Glenna Shepard of Okemah, Oklahoma, whom he met at East Central. Lt. Col. Cranford was the 2003 Milam Award recipient and an ardent supporter of the ECU athletic community.

Upon his graduation, James Cranford was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant, serving as an Artillery Officer. He served two tours of duty in Viet Nam. His military awards include the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, the Meritorious Service Metal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”. Among his various assignments, he was the Commanding Officer of Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment from 1965 to 1966 which took him to his first of two tours in Vietnam.

Upon his retirement from the Marine Corps in 1980 his family moved to Orlando, FL and Lt. Col. Cranford started the Marine Corps JROTC unit at Edgewater High School, in Orlando where he was the Senior Military Instructor there for 24 years.

Lt. Col Cranford was a volunteer at Florida Hospital, working with the Cardio Vascular Intensive Care Unit. James was a member of the M.O.A.A., the V.F.W., the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, the American Legion and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He was a HUGE FLORIDA GATOR FAN. He worked tirelessly on the Charlie Battery Reunions held every two years. He is still known to his Marines from the unit as “Skipper.”

He is preceded in death by his parents Bertie and Eunice Cranford, brothers Jack Cranford and Buford Cranford, and by his beloved wife Glenna Shepard Cranford. He is survived by His daughters Elizabeth Lanam of Orlando and Suzi Robinson of Altamonte Springs, sons Michael Cranford, of Plano, TX, , Dr. Matthew Cranford of Augusta, GA,; his grandchildren Christopher Lanam, Mason Robinson, Annalaura Cranford, William Cranford, and Heather Cranford. Lt. Col Cranford was laid to rest with Military Honors May 1st, 2012 at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha, FL just outside of Orlando

Close Station, March Order.

Semper Fidelis!.

The family requests any donations in memoriam to be made to the ECU Foundation, Inc, attn Dr. Gerald Williamson, ECU, 1100 East 14th St., Ada, Oklahoma, 74820 to support the cheerleader scholarship established in memory of Glenna Cranford.