Ralph V. Crank Jr.

January 26, 1945 - December 22, 2020

Ralph V. Crank, Jr. formerly of Clarksville, MO, passed away on December 22, 2020 following a brief illness with COVID. Ralph grew up in the farming communities of Clarksville, Paynesville and Punkin Center. He attended community schools in Paynesville and Clarksville finishing high school at the consolidation of those schools-Clopton R-III High School. Following graduation Ralph attended Ranken Technical School in St. Louis for training in auto mechanics. Ralph loved cars and would do some of his own maintenance for many years. Ralph took a job with then Missouri Edison (later part of Union Electric and now Ameren) in service and sales with a long and distinguished career. There was some interruption to his time with Missouri Edison as Ralph served in the Missouri National Guard. Through his associations in this job Ralph became a member of the Home Builders Association of St. Louis. This organization brought many friendships and was a source of pride for the activities in which Ralph participated. After his retirement from Ameren, Ralph was active in a group he referred to as “The Old-Timers” fellow retirees from his UE/Ameren days. In retirement Ralph was a sales associate at Sears in the tool department. Tools were a source of fascination and enjoyment in his skilled hands. He enjoyed woodworking and building things. Many family and friends were gifted with his bookends, coat racks, shelves, and cutting boards. Ralph also served as an OATS driver during his retirement. To friends and family, Ralph was known as a prolific gardener. He liked to see row upon row of canned green beans lining the shelves as winter approached. He would sometimes be in friendly competition with his aunt Marian Bankhead as to who had managed the most quarts of beans in a given day. He also helped his cousin, Mike Bankhead, counted among his best friends, in hauling pumpkins in the fall. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph V. Crank, Sr. and Willanna Frances Omohundro Crank. He is survived by his daughter, Leah (Crank) Lensing, son-in-law Dan Lensing, and grandson, Luke Lensing (the apple of his eye). Other survivors include his sister Debra Crank-Lewis, brother-in-law Tom Lewis, niece Rebecca Lewis, nephew Christian Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Omohundro (aunt and uncle) and numerous cousins. A private graveside service for internment of Ralph’s ashes will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Clarksville on January 16, 2021. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations may be made to the Clarksville United Methodist Church as Ralph grew up in the Methodist tradition. Collier Funeral Home in Louisiana, MO was in charge of arrangements.