Henry B. Cranford

Master Chief Henry Bruce Cranford Sr., USN, (ret), 90, of Frederick, Maryland, died Saturday, 25 September 2010, at Frederick Memorial Hospital. He was the husband of the late Eva Mary Coury Cranford.

Born Sept. 29, 1919, in Carthage, Texas, he was the son of the late Henry W. and Annie L. Smith Cranford.

Master Chief Cranford enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1938, retiring from active and reserve services in 1969 as master chief, HMCM, and retiring again in 1985 from civil services. He moved to Frederick in 1994 and then retired from private consulting service in 1995.

During his time in the service, he served on the following ships of war: USS Charles Lawrence, DE-53/ADP-37 (May 1943 to February 1946), USS LSM-297 (January 1949 to March 1949), USS Okalosa, APA-219 (March 1949 to April 1949), USS Ronquil, SS-396 (May 1953 to August 1954), USS Tiru, SS-416 (August 1954 to February 1955) and USS Begura, SS 331 (February 1955 to December 1955).

Master Chief Henry was a member of St. Timothy's Catholic Church, Walkersville. He was also the reunion coordinator of the USS Charles Lawrence, DE-53/ADP-37 for 20 years. He was a member of DESA of Maryland, a life member of AMVETS, Post 9, Middletown, SUBVETS Tri-State Base, U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II, American Legion, Francis Scott Key Post 11, Frederick, and VFW Post 3285, Frederick. He was also a member of Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 182, Rockville, and AARP Chapter 636, Frederick.