Obituary of William W. Ranke

Name: William W. "Bill" Ranke Date of Death: Friday, April 27, 2007 Residence: Taberg, NY Age: 87 Obituary: William W. "Bill" Ranke, 87, of Taberg, died April 27, 2007, in Rome Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. He was born July 21, 1919, in Ogdensburg, the son of Walter and Gertrude Hamlin Ranke. He was a graduate of Camden High School and Cazenovia College. On May 14, 1943, he married Christine Sanders in Del Ray Beach, FL. Bill served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II in the European Theatre. He was commissioned as a Navigator in Boca Raton, FL in 1943 and flew 42 missions. He received the Air Medal with Four Leaf Clusters. He was later recalled to serve in the Korean Conflict as a flying instructor at Waco, TX, being discharged as a Captain in 1952. He owned and operated Ranke's General Store in Taberg, for over 25 years. He was later a bus driver for the Camden School System. He was a member of the Taberg United Methodist Church. He was a 40-year member of the Baron Steuben Lodge 261 in Lee Center. He was member of the Meeker-O'Rourke America Legion and the Taberg Volunteer Fire Department Bill also served on the Camden School Board from 1960-1965 and Town Clerk of Annsville in 1965. Surviving besides his wife are one daughter, Christelle Box, Camden; one son, Kenneth Ranke, Rome; five grandchildren, Susan Foley, Jennifer Fox, Andrew Box, Tiffany Ranke, and Sean Ranke; four great grandchildren, Jessica Gerrard, Josiah Foley, Daniel Fox, and Emma Foley. Services: Graveside services will be held at the Maple Hill Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 9464 State Rt. 13, Camden on April 30, from 4-7 PM. Contributions may be made in Bill's memory to the Taberg Volunteer Fire Department.