Obituary of L. Bruce Cranstoun

L. Bruce Cranstoun, 95, of Allentown, PA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Phoebe Nursing Center, Allentown, PA.

He was born and lived in Lawrenceville, NJ for most of his life.  Bruce was predeceased by his parents Leroy W. and Gertrude Cranstoun and his wife of almost 70 years, Evelyn Cranstoun. He is survived by his three daughters, Jean Mauro of Lawrenceville, Eileen Cranstoun of Allentown, PA, and Celia Petiprin of Allentown, PA.  Bruce has seven grandchildren: Edward Maxell of Ohio, Nicholas Maxell of PA, Gabriella Raffo of Long Island, Victoria Leamy of PA, Eric Mauro of NJ, Emily Wales of PA, and Alexander Mauro of NJ.  He also has 13 great-grandchildren.

Dad passed away in the early morning of January 8, 2019.  He was 95 years old, and one of the last of the group they called "our greatest generation."  After his high school graduation, he immediately enlisted in the Navy and became a pilot, training to fly off aircraft carriers for WWII.  People who flew with the Air Force and Navy called that the dangerous time.  He survived, obviously, but many didn't - all those young men and women had to grow up quickly and miss their youth.  But he returned and married our mother, who was a nurse, raised their family, and spent evenings at Drexel to complete his education and become an engineer.  He played an important part in designing sutures for Ethicon, worshiped at and devoted a great deal of time to the Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church, and was President of the Lawrence Township School Board for many years.  He was fiercely proud of his Scottish heritage and will be buried in his kilt as he requested.

We are reminded of the benediction for St. Anselm:  "And so he died, at the conclusion of an eminently useful life, and thus obtained his crown in Paradise."  Rest well, Dad.  Go and be with Mom.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2019 11:00AM at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.  Reverend Nina Reeder will officiate.

Interment will follow at Lawrenceville Cemetery.

The viewing for Bruce will be held on Saturday morning from 9-11AM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church, 1039 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08658.