Collins, OH – Russell Byrne McCracken, 80, of Collins, Ohio passed away on Monday, December 22, 2014 at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital after a short illness.
He was born on February 3, 1934 in O’Brion, West Virginia. He graduated from Clay County High School in Clay, West Virginia, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and played tuba for the marching band. He also attended West Virginia University in Morgantown, where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
He moved to Ohio in 1954, and worked as a tool and die maker at the Ford Motor Company plant in Walton Hills, Ohio, then transferred to the Sandusky plant in 1962. Russell retired in 2004 after 50 years of service with Ford Motor Company. He belonged to the Local UAW 1216.
Russell was an avid reader. He also enjoyed collecting antiques and memorabilia. At one time, he was a member of the Toledo Concert Association and the Sandusky Concert Association.
Russell is survived by his wife of 56 years, Leona (Raber) McCracken, of Collins; son, Nathan McCracken, of Elgin, Illinois; daughters, Leslie (Robert) Barnes, of Bakersfield, California; Suzanne (Marc) Caffee, of West Lafayette, Indiana; and Felicia (John) Mamrak, of Elyria, Ohio; grandsons, Garrett McCracken, William Caffee, and Richard Caffee; brothers, Murray, of Long Beach, CA, Arthur, of Niles, OH, Steve, of Milton WV, Tom, of Sandusky, Ohio, and Norman and Arnold, both of Duck, WV; sisters, Margaret Moore and Betty Robinson, both of Duck, WV, Mary Lou Green, of Akron, Ohio, and Susie McCracken, of Charleston WV; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Preston and Dorothy (Mollohan) McCracken, brothers, Donley McCracken, James McCracken, and Sherman Curtis McCracken; sister, Hazel Adkins; granddaughter, Jeannette Mamrak; and grandson, Joshua Mamrak.
Friends called on Sunday, December 28 from 2-5 P.M. at Morman-Hinman-Tanner Funeral Home, 38 South St., Berlin Heights, OH. Funeral services were on Monday, December 29 at 10:30 A.M. at the funeral home with Rev. Don Spurlock officiating. Burial followed in Collins Cemetery.
Donations can be made to one’s favorite charity. Online condolences may be made at mormanfuneralhome.com.
(Editor’s note: This obituary ran last week without the photo. We are reprinting it at the family’s request.)
