September 20, 1992
He began his insurance career in 1958 with his father-in-law's firm, the Saffran Insurance agency, which eventually became Saffran and Cranston. In 1969 his firm merged with Kroh, Miller and Knight, and he became president of the firm in 1981. In 1988 he became chairman of the board of Kroh, Miller, Knight and Shackelford Inc. Following the acquisition of the Kroh firm by Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton in 1990, Mr. Cranston was appointed chief executive officer and president.
He was active in the Towson Business Association, the Optimist Club of Towson, the Towson Jaycees and the Towson Manor Association. In 1975 he was awarded the Hilda Wilson Award from the Towson Business Association for outstanding community service.
He enjoyed woodworking and restoring houses with his wife, the former Carolyn Florence Saffran.
In addition to his wife of 35 years, he is survived by two sons, H. Joseph Cranston Jr. and Michael Cranston, both of Baltimore; three daughters, Christine Cranston of Washington, Sandra Perry of Trappe, and Wendy Morris of St. Petersburg Beach, Fla.; and two grandsons, Matthew Cranston and Benjamin Cranston, both of Baltimore.
The family suggested memorial contributions to the Stella Maris Hospice, 2300 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, Md., 21204.
Stuart Edward Miller
Recycling plant manager
Stuart Edward Miller, the retired general manager of the Pioneer Paper Stock Company's Baltimore recycling plant, died of cancer yesterday at St. Agnes Hospital.
Mr. Miller, 80, was a resident of the Charlestown Retirement Community. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the retirement community's Chapel of the Angels, 701 Maiden Choice Lane in Catonsville.
He was born in Cleveland and received his education in the public schools of Euclid, Ohio. Mr. Miller began his business career in 1931 with the Higbee Company, a department store in Cleveland, and following his marriage to the former Dorothy Hattendorf in 1938, moved to Dubuque, where he was the assistant store manager of the Rosheck Brothers department store.
He moved to Baltimore in 1941 and went to work for the Glenn L. Martin Co. in Middle River as an assistant expediting manager. Following the end of the war, he was hired by the Pioneer Paper Stock Co., a subsidiary of the Container Corporation of America, to establish a paper recycling plant in Baltimore. The plant eventually became the city's largest. He retired in 1977 after 32 years as general manager.
The former 30-year resident of Towson enjoyed traveling and playing his banjo and was principal banjo for the Charlestones, the retirement community's orchestra.
Mr. Miller was a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 116, the Scottish Rite Masons, Baltimore Boumi Temple and the Bonnie Blink Daylight Lodge.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Jane Miller Thompson of Latham, N.Y., and a brother, Curt Miller of Clio, Mich.
The family suggested memorial contributions to the Charlestown Community Benevolent Fund, 701 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, Md., 21228 or The Shrine Crippled Children's Hospital Fund, c/o the Boumi Temple, 4900 N. Charles St. Baltimore, Md., 21212.
John C. Young Sr.
Research chemist
John C. Young Sr., a former research chemist at Aberdeen Proving Ground, died Thursday at Franklin Square Hospital of a stroke.
A Mass of Christian burial for the 65-year-old Perry Hall resident will be offered at 11 a.m. tomorrow at St. Joseph's Church, 8420 Belair Road in Fullerton.
The Baltimore native was a 1946 graduate of Calvert Hall College and was a 1950 magna cum laude graduate of Loyola College with a bachelor's degree in chemistry.
He was a chemist for 30 years at the Aberdeen Proving Ground Chemical Research, Development and Engineering Center, where he was awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Award by the U.S. Army. He retired in 1983.
Mr. Young enjoyed camping and following the Colts and Orioles.
He was the past Grand Knight of the Father Burggraff Council of the Knights of Columbus and was past president of the St. Joseph's Holy Name Society.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, the former Charlotte Johnson; two sons, John C. Young Jr. of Bel Air and Michael J. Young of Glen Burnie; a daughter, Eileen Elliott of Ferndale; a grandson, David Elliott of Ferndale; and a granddaughter, Kimberly Young of Bel Air.
