John Cochran Crank

CRANK, John Cochran, 93, passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2022. He was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Judith Ray Beasley Crank; his parents, Charles and Mary Crank; and his three siblings, Charles Crank, Mary Crank and Frances McGillicuddy.

He is survived by his children, Leigh Perry, John Crank (Laura), David Crank and Andrew Crank (Laurie); eight grandchildren, Christopher and David Perry, Nathan, Miller, Harrison, Austin, Abigail and Mackenzie Crank; and five great-grandchildren.

Born in Richmond in 1929, John grew up in Barton Heights, attended Thomas Jefferson High School and graduated from Lynchburg College in 1950, where he met his wife, Judy. He then went on to serve as a special agent in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps in Washington, D.C. After the army, John began his career with a family business, Henrico Furniture Company, which he was involved with up until a few years before his death. In 1976, he received the Retailer of the Year award from the Virginia-Carolina Furniture Retailer Association.

John and his wife Judy were charter members of Bon Air Christian Church, and both were active throughout their lives in many capacities with the church. John also served many years as a trustee for his alma mater, Lynchburg College, and was a 35-year member of the Sandston Rotary Club where he served a term as president and was a Paul Harris Fellow.

There will be a memorial service for both he and his wife at Bon Air Christian Church on Sunday, August 7, 2022, at 2 p.m. A private interment in Hollywood Cemetery will follow later.

In lieu of flowers, John has requested that donations be made to Lynchburg College or the Jones Memorial Library in Lynchburg.