Wayne “Al” Crandall

Wayne “Al” Alan Crandall, passed away peacefully in his home on November 30, 2021, after an 8-month battle with cancer. Al was a lifelong resident of Madison County. He attended Anderson High School and graduated in 1963, then immediately started a tool and die apprenticeship. He spent the next 36+ years building die cast and plastic molds for the Guide Division of General Motors. He also did a lot of carpentry and construction work on the side over the years; he built Crandall’s Physical Arts Center in Pendleton, a dance and gymnastics studio run by his first wife Carol. He raised two children and put them both through college while working 6 to 7 days a week for most of his time at Guide. This left very little spare time, but he managed to squeeze in some interests here and there. Over the years, his leisure activities included fishing, bowling, flying his antique airplane, working on a homebuilt airplane, and in later years, golf and woodworking. In 1994, he married his second wife, Karon, whom he described as “the best thing to ever walk into my life.” He took “early” retirement from GM at age 54, which left him with a lot of spare time. He filled that time working in his woodshop and completing “honey-do” projects for his wife around the house. His passion for woodturning led him and and two friends to develop a deep hollowing system, which earned them a U.S. Patent and a great deal of personal pride. After his beloved wife, Karon, passed away in 2013, he rekindled his love of shooting sports and became a member of the Fall Creek Valley Conservation Club, eventually serving on the club’s board. He shot high-power rifles, trap shotgun, and competed in action pistol shoots. He was also instrumental in helping the club build a covered pistol range and the action pistol arena; the club voted to name the latter after Al just a few months before his passing. He was deeply moved that the club members would bestow such an honor upon him. Al is preceded in death by his mother and father, Freda and J.W. Crandall, Jr.; two step-mothers, Mayme and Virginia; his brother, David Crandall; his nephew, Gary; and his wife, Karon. He is survived by his son, Steve Crandall; his daughter Valerie Robertson and her husband, Ricky; step-daughters Amy Fairchild, Lisa Kirtley, and Stacey Woodson; nephew David Crandall; and several step-grandchildren. Memorial Services will be conducted at 6pm Wednesday, December 8, at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Service & Crematory. Visitation is from 4 pm until the time of services at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 214 Overlook Circle Ste. 153, Brentwood, TN 37027 https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Donate or the Fall Creek Valley Conservation Club, PO Box 2897, Anderson, IN 46018.