Wallace E. Crandall

CRANDALL, Wallace E.
(Age 90)

Wallace Eugene Crandall of Lewiston passed away Tuesday, February 8, 2011, at his residence. He was 90 years old.
Wally was born in Arco, Idaho on November 26, 1920 to Lee Wallace Crandall and Norma Reynolds Crandall Hudson. He attended school in Shoshone, Idaho and graduated from Jerome High School in Jerome, ID. He attended the University of Idaho Southern Branch in Pocatello before finishing his education at the University of Idaho Moscow campus, graduating in 1947. In 1943, Wally married Naomi Jean Barnes at the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Wedding Chapel. They enjoyed 56 years of marriage until her death in 1999. Wally joined the United States Navy in 1943 and served during World War II. He was a Seaman Second Class and a Fire Controlman. He crossed the Pacific Ocean five times during the War and received several medals for his service. After his honorable discharge in 1945, Wally went to work for JR Simplot and the U.S. Bureau of Mines before starting his career at Hecla Mining Company in Wallace, ID, working for their company for 38 years. He started at Hecla in 1947 in Industrial Mining Engineering. From 1956 to 1983, Wally was a Chief Engineer. In 1983, he became Manager of Technical Services, and Assistant to the President in 1984. He became Manager of Mining Research before his retirement in 1985. Wally traveled extensively in the service and for work. He wrote or contributed to numerous articles in mining magazines and was very instrumental in the development and construction of the Silver Shaft at the Lucky Friday Mine. He also headed a search team at the Sunshine Mine Disaster at Kellogg, ID. A Hecla Corporate Geologist recently said that a mineral vein was found in a new exploration area and it was named after Wally Crandall. They were hopeful that it would be the "Mother Lode".
Wally was a member of the Holy Trinity Church at Wallace, Idaho where he was a Sr. Warden and Lay Reader. He also belonged to the National Rifle Association, the Elks Club for 58 years, the Lions Club, and the AIME Society of Mining Engineers. He enjoyed his time as a ski instructor and participating in a bowling league. Wally loved fishing, hunting, skiing, wine making, camping, and gardening. He was a very family oriented man, and with the help of a friend, built a beautiful A-frame cabin on the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River.
Wally is survived by his brother Calvin H. Crandall of Lewiston; daughters Diana Kottkey and husband Steve of Clarkston, Teresa Meacham and husband Scott of Lewiston, and Judy Cloos and husband Randy of Osburn, Idaho; grandsons Rob Kottkey of Clarkston, Kirk Kottkey of Lewiston, Kevin Kottkey of Forrest Grove, Oregon, and Kenny Cloos of Coeur d'Alene; granddaughters Erin Jeppsen of Moscow, ID, Jenny Pernsteiner of Lewiston, and Valerie Cloos of Fort Collins, CO; as well as nine great grandchildren. Wally was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Naomi Jean Barnes Crandall, and his sister Nancy Lee Kleffner.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 19, 2011 at the Elks Lodge in Wallace, ID at 11:00 a.m. with a luncheon to follow. Memorial contributions can be made in Wally's name to the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 312 4th Street, Wallace, ID 83873, the East Shoshone Quick Response0 Unit, P.O. Box 723, Osburn, ID 83849, or to the Mountain Valley Care and Rehabilitation Center 601 W Cameron Ave. Kellogg, ID 83837. Arrangements are with MALCOM'S BROWER-WANN FUNERAL HOME in Lewiston and SHOSHONE FUNERAL SERVICES in Kellogg.