Kathryn Edith Foutz Cranford

Kathryn Edith Foutz Cranford, 93, departed this life on Friday, May 13, 2016, at Bob and Carolyn Tucker Hospice House.

Born on Feb. 28, 1923, in the Organ Church Community of Rowan County, Kathryn was the youngest child of Lewis Quincy Foutz and Jennie Lee Waller Foutz. She attended Kluttz School, a one-room schoolhouse, before being transferred to Rockwell School in the seventh grade. She played basketball for Rockwell High School prior to graduating in 1940.

Following her high school graduation, Kathryn remained on the farm to help her parents until offered a job in Cannon Mills. The job offer came as a way to keep her playing softball on the mill team. It was after one of these games when the team stopped at Service Oil that she met her future husband, Fletcher F. (Pete) Cranford. She and Fletcher were married on July 28, 1944, and immediately departed for Sioux City, Iowa, where Fletcher was stationed in the Air Force. After Fletcher's discharge, they returned to North Carolina and moved to Kannapolis. Kathryn went back to her job in Cannon Mill Plant 1 in the sheet department. She retired from Fieldcrest Cannon after over 50 years of service in 1994.

During the years Kathryn worked in the mill she taught hemmers at Plant One and Wiscasset Mill in Albermarle. She then became the first female supervisor in the Sheet Production division of Cannon Mills. The work ethic Kathryn learned as a child on the farm continued throughout her life. Her hours at home were filled with gardening, sewing for her family, cross stitching, cooking, baking, and taking care of her husband.

Kathryn was a faithful Lutheran throughout her life. She worked tirelessly in her churches, Redeemer Lutheran and New Hope Lutheran. Over the years she served as Cub Scout Master, Sunday School teacher, Bible School teacher, Luther League advisor, Council Member, President of the Women of the Church, Circle chair/leader and a guiding force in the preparation and serving of the Wednesday Night Meals. One of her most well received ideas was the merging of three small congregations into New Hope Lutheran.

Kathryn and Fletcher, worked together to build their home and family. They were dedicated to each other through 67 years of marriage. After retirement they were able to travel to all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. Kathryn will be remembered by many for her wonderful bread and cakes, all the canned food from her garden, the beautiful flowers that graced the altar at the church and many, many Sunday lunches served to her family.

Kathryn is preceeded in death by her parents; two brothers, Glenn and Clyde Foutz; and a sister, Hilda Foutz. Her husband, Fletcher, left her to the care of her children at his death on Oct. 15, 2011.

She is survived by a son, Fletcher Cranford, Jr (Shari) of Columbia, S.C.; a daughter, Kathy Hunter (Mike) of Kannapolis; four grandchildren, Susan Locker (Chris) of Chapin, S.C., Jason Cranford of N.Y., Kathryn Murph (Nathan) of Kannapolis and Michael Hunter (Susan) of Jacksonville, Fla.; and seven great-grandchildren, Jay and Ashley Locker, Kaylee, Taylor and Hunter Murph, Brynn and Delaney Kathryn Hunter. She awaited the birth of another great-granddaughter in the summer of 2016.

Visitation and Service: The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 2:45 p.m., on Monday, May 16, in the Family Life Center of New Hope Lutheran. A Celebration of Kathryn's life will then be held at 3 p.m., in the church sanctuary. The Rev. Kenneth Fink and Rev. Roger Storms will officiate. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park.

Memorials: Memorials may be made to New Hope Lutheran Church, Kannapolis; or to Bob and Carolyn Tucker Hospice House.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Bob and Carolyn Tucker Hospice House for the loving care given to our mother during the last weeks of her life. The love given to all the family and to Mother will never be forgotten.

Arrangements are in the care of Whitley's Funeral Home.

Salisbury Post, 15 May 2016