ARLON THOMAS CARROLL
CRANE: Arlon Thomas Carroll left this life on Sunday, January 4. He was born May 26, 1919 near Lohn, Texas to Marshall and Malissa Carroll. He was the youngest of four children. He married Sibyl Eileen Normand on May 29, 1939 in Brady, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Lurlene Carroll Henderson and Beulah Carroll Orrick , one brother Willard Carroll, and a grandson Paul Prather. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, one son James Arlon and wife Darlene of Alvin, Texas, and two daughters, Ann Goggans of Crane and Betty and husband Bill Abbott of San Angelo; five grandchildren Carla and husband Mark Malone, Michelle Handy, Arlon Paul Carroll, Brent Arlon Carroll and Danna and husband Chris Ryan; 9 great-grandchildren Anthony and Sharina Malone, Genene and Michael Handy, Clint, Arlon Timothy and Jennifer Carroll, and Jonah and Sam Ryan; 4 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In the early years of their marriage, Arlon and Sibyl lived in Sonora, Texas, where Arlon installed butane tanks and wind-powered electrical sytems throughout the surrounding ranching country. From there, Arlon went to serve two years in the Army, primarily as a tank commander in Italy during World War II.
Arlon and Sibyl moved to Crane in 1947 to establish a plumbing business and beauty shop. Arlon earned a master plumbers license in 1949. Then on December 21, 1950 he was appointed postmaster in the Crane post office by President Harry Truman. He held that office for 29 years, except for 1973-74 when he served as Acting Postmaster in Odessa.
Arlon was very active in community service in Crane, including 61 years in the Lions Club and 29 years in the Crane Volunteer Fire Department. He also served on the hospital and school boards and was named Outstanding Citizen of Crane in 1989. He was a member of the Church of Christ, and for many years was an elder of the Mary Street Church.
Viewing will be on Wednesday and Thursday at the Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home in Crane, with family visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at the Mary Street Church of Christ.