Eugene Elliott Cranford

CRANFORD, EUGENE ELLIOTT “Gene”

July 13, 1941 to December 18, 2021 

Eugene E. (Gene) Cranford, 80, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully at home in Bluffton, South Carolina on December 18, 2021. 

Gene was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Elliott & Lura (West) Cranford.  While at Auburn University he met his wife Margaret (Marti) Penfield and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.  He graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1963. 

He served from 1963 to 1967 in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam as a Second Lieutenant and was awarded a Bronze Star.  He earned his MBA from Georgia Southern University in 1972. 

He started his career at Babcock & Wilcox in the fledgling data processing division and took those skills to become a successful software sales executive, providing software solutions for manufacturing companies. He helped countless global manufacturing companies improve the manufacturing processes and operations.  He worked at DataWorks/Epicor, QAD, ASK, Western Data and Ultriva.  Gene retired in 2010.

Gene and his wife, Marti, enjoyed international travel and golfing together.  They were also well known for their passion for moving and decorating their next home.  They accomplished this approximately 18 times.  He was an avid Auburn football fan.

In later years he enjoyed researching his family’s genealogy and volunteering at Meals-on-Wheels and God’s Goods Thrift Store.  He was a member of The Church of the Cross in Bluffton.

Gene is survived by his wife, Marti, married for 59 years.  His son Jim Cranford (Robin) of Napier, New Zealand; son Scott Cranford (Gina) and grandsons, Josh and Will of Berlin, MA; brother Jerry Cranford (Cathy) of Santa Ana, CA; nephew Dave Cranford of Almeda, CA; nieces Melissa Cranford (Jim) of Bristol, PA and Samantha Cranford of Ashton, PA; nephews Russell Penfield (Jennifer) of Huntsville, AL and Matthew Penfield (Emily) of Birmingham, AL; and several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents Elliott and Lura; his brother Tom; and nephew Tommy.

Due to covid constraints, a Burial Ceremony and Celebration of Life is planned for some time early next year.  Interment will be at Forest Hills Cemetery, Birmingham, Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to World Central Kitchen, in the name of Eugene Cranford.

World Central Kitchen:  https://donate.wck.org/give/236738/#!/donation/checkout

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