Cranston Williams Obituary

December 10, 2023

Cranston Williams, Jr. died on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Brandon Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Roanoke, Va.

He is survived by his daughter, Sally Williams of Chapel Hill, NC; son, Reade Williams of the New River Valley, VA; nieces and nephews, Ann Claire and Joel Shepherd of Rocky Mount VA, Ellen and Mike Massey of Charleston, SC, and Ann and Bill Johnson of Roanoke, VA; as well as by four godchildren and many special cousins.

Predeceasing him were his wife, Marilyn Johnson Williams of Roanoke VA; his parents, Caroline and Cranston Williams; and brother, Hutter Williams, all three of Lynchburg, VA.

Cranston was born in Chattanooga, TN and moved with his family to Scarsdale, NY as a young child. After graduating from Scarsdale High School in 1944, he served in the United States Navy for two years during World War II. He graduated from the University of Virginia with a BEE in electrical engineering in 1950, then received his MBA degree from Wharton Graduate Business School (University of Pennsylvania) in 1952.

While at UVa, he was a member of the Thomas Jefferson Society, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, the Virginia Engineering Review and the Dean's List. As a dedicated alumnus, he was in the Thornton Society and Virginia Engineering Foundation, as well as always being a loyal and avid UVa sports fan.

Cranston worked at The Philadelphia Bulletin while at Wharton, then joined The Roanoke Times & World-News, where he worked for 36 years with the Times-World Corporation. He was the seventh-generation newspaperman in his paternal family, and had said, "There was printer's ink in my blood." He focused on the business side of the newspaper, however, first as Assistant to the General Manager, then as Production Manager, Assistant General Manager, Business Manager, and finally Treasurer of The Roanoke Times. He served on the board of the International Newspaper Financial Executives for many years as well as on the Mechanical Committee of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association.

Cranston had a deep interest in the history and genealogy of his family; he spent his first 18 summers at Thomas Jefferson's summer house, Poplar Forest, in Forest, VA, which was the home of his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Christian S. Hutter of Lynchburg, VA.

He enjoyed his family, his travels around the United States and Europe with his wife, golfing with his buddies, football games at UVa, and American history trips with his friends.

Cranston was very active in the Roanoke community, serving on numerous boards of civic, charitable, and non-profit organizations which included the Science Museum, the Historical Society of Western Virginia, and the English-Speaking Union of Western Virginia. He was a Rotary Club member, a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow, and belonged to the Shenandoah Club for 64 years.

Cranston was also a 62-year member of Second Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon and elder, a Sunday school teacher, and on many church committees. He attended services every week and after he could no longer attend in person, he faithfully watched the service on his computer.

Private interment will be held at Evergreen Burial Park, Roanoke, VA. The Rev. Elizabeth N. H. Link will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those wishing to make a memorial consider: Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, P.O. Box 419, Forest, VA 24551 or Second Presbyterian Church Property Fund, 214 Mountain Avenue, SW, Roanoke, VA 24016. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.Oakeys.com.

Arrangements by Oakey's Funeral Service, Downtown Chapel, Roanoke (540) 982-2100.

Published by Roanoke Times on Dec. 13, 2023.