Mary Crapnell

Mary Lou Crapnell, age 91, of Belle Center, Ohio, passed away at her residence Tuesday, November 18, 2014.

She was born on the family farm in Hardin County Ohio to the late John Earl and Emma Lucille (Allen) McAlexander by Dr. A.E. Jones, the new doctor in town January 26, 1923, during a blizzard.
She was his first delivery in his new practice. She was also preceded in death by her former husbands, Stearns Boyd Crapnell and Russell Dillon; a brother, Vaughan Allen McAlexander, and a sister-in-law, Martha (Zupp) McAlexander.

She grew up on the southwest corner of Main and Elizabeth Streets. They lived above the family business, Mac’s Restaurant until the building was destroyed by fire. The business was then relocated on the northeast side of Main Street under the big elm tree with a bench built around it for all to gather and visit.

Surviving are three sons, Boyd Crapnell of Sidney, Ohio, Larry (Charlene) Crapnell of Bellefontaine and James (Tana) Crapnell of Cleveland, Texas; ex-daughters-in-law, Carla Crapnell of Belle Center and Melenee Johnson of Kenton, Ohio; grandchildren, Brenda Crapnell of Texas, Beckie Thomas of Kenton, Larry (Kelly Skeen) Crapnell, Ryan (Kari Johnson) Crapnell, both of Bellefontaine, Ohio, Trevor Crapnell of Grove City Ohio, Colt (Amanda) Crapnell of Huntsville, Ohio, Brittany Blankenship of Las Vegas, Nevada and Keri Blankenship of Cleveland, Texas; step-grandsons, Chance Manns of Eustis, Florida and Dustin Manns of Belle Center; great grandchildren, Brandon and Brianne Mosley, both of Texas, Austin Crapnell of Grove City, Easton Crapnell of Indian Lake, Ohio, Lane Crapnell, Karsyn Crapnell, both of Bellefontaine and Riley of Huntsville; step great-grandsons, Malyki Manns of Eustis, Florida and Haiden Manns of Belle Center; two nieces, Sue Kerns of Marion, Ohio and Yvonne Elliott of Belle Center, and many great nieces, nephews and cousins.

She met Stearns B. Crapnell from Joy, Illinois November 1, 1941, while he was a guest of her cousin Joseph K. Allen. They were married May 9, 1944, while he was on furlough from Italy during World War II.

Mary Lou graduated from Belle Center High School and attended one year at The Ohio State University, then nine months at the Lima Memorial Hospital nursing program. Mary Lou was an LPN and retired from Mary Rutan Hospital in 1989.

She was a former member of the Champaign County First families, the Pioneer Family of Logan County, and the Logan County Historical and Genealogical Society. She was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #266 in Belle Center, the V.F.W. Post Auxiliary #1080 in Bellefontaine, the AmVets Post #39 of Lakeview, Ohio and the Eastern Star Chapter #459 and D.A.R. Chapters in Bellefontaine. She attended the Belle Center United Methodist Church.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Monday, November 24, 2014 at the Fairview Cemetery in Belle Center with Pastor Kevin Smith officiating.

The staff of the Eichholtz Daring and Sanford Funeral Home in Belle Center handled the arrangements.

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