Mr. Lolan Granger, 91, passed away July 3, 2013, at Autumn Cove Retirement Community in Anniston.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Ruth M. Granger, his mother, Kathleen G. Spearman, and his step-father, H. Grady Spearman. Lolan was a member of First United Methodist Church of Anniston since moving here in 1962.
Lolan is survived by his daughters, Nancy G. Waterhouse and husband William E. Waterhouse III of Birmingham, Catherine L. Granger of Dallas, Texas, and one grandchild, Lee Crittenden (Coco) Kubicki, also of Dallas.
Lolan was born in Grangerburg, Alabama and graduated from Dothan High School where he was the football team manager and voted cutest boy. He served in WWII and the Korean War, receiving 4 Bronze Stars. He earned his BBA from Emory University, Atlanta in 1949. After 30 years, Lolan retired in 1980 from The Social Security Administration and immediately began working for Merit Exploration, a nephew’s oil company, leasing oil & gas rights in NE Alabama through 1983.
In 1984, Les Pair invited Lolan to his first Kiwanis Club meeting, which led to decades of fun experiences while volunteering for a variety of other charitable organizations.
“. . . the boards and charities of Calhoun County are stitched together by people Granger has recruited and inspired . . .” -- March 2002 Anniston Star article.
Following are Lolan’s Awards:
Kiwanis Club of Anniston
• Kiwanian of the Year 1989-1990
• The Hixon Award for outstanding service (one of only four awarded by the Anniston Club)
• First Kiwanis International Builders Club Award for establishing the most Builder’s Clubs in a year. These are junior-type K Clubs to help middle school students learn leadership and responsibilities for community service.
The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties
• In 1998, The Arc established a “Lolan Granger Award for Outstanding Service to the Arc” which is presented at The Arc Annual Meeting, Awards Banquet and Fashion Show
The Arc of Alabama
• In 2002, Lolan received The Arc of Alabama “Volunteer of the Year” Award for the State of Alabama
The Community Foundation of NE Alabama’s Juliette P. Doster Award for Outstanding Volunteerism in Healthcare
• In January 2002, Lolan was the third recipient of the award
Lolan’s history of other Activities/Associations:
• Interfaith Ministries
• Community Enabler Developer
• Sunny King Charity [Golf] Classic
• Habitat for Humanity of Calhoun County
• Board of Stewards, First United Methodist Church, Anniston
• Boards of Directors:
American Heart Association – Calhoun County Chapter,
The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties,
Hospice of East Alabama,
and Wesley Foundation, a Methodist campus ministry at Jacksonville State University
• Program Chairman, National Association of Retired Federal Employees area chapter
• 55+ Club, First United Methodist Church, Anniston
• ASCCA Alabama State Camp for Crippled Children and Adults
• Meals on Wheels
• Anniston Museum and Berman Museum
• Camp Lee Christian Retreat Center
• Calhoun Investment Club, Anniston
If you ask a USPS letter carrier about delivering mail on Cloverdale Road, they will confirm there was a surprise (usually a cookie) left for them in the Granger mailbox every day.
“I like to believe people out there think ‘Need some help? Call Lolan.’ ” -- March 2002 Anniston Star article.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that Memorials be made to Lolan’s favorite church http://www.fumc-anniston.org/, to one of his favorite charities http://www.thearcofalabama.com/chapters/calhoun.html, http://annistonkiwanis.com/news/?newsID=5, http://www.interfaithcalhoun.org/, http://unityenabler.org/, http://habitatanniston.org/, or to one of your favorite charities.
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