CRANDALL, Barbara

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona February 16, 2003 Barbara Allen Crandall, 99 year old Mesa native, died on Wednesday, February 12, 2003, at her Mesa home. Born October 5, 1903, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul L. Crandall, two sons, Don Ashael and Charles Lee. Barbara rode a horse bareback to Mesa and Gilbert elementary schools and graduated from high school and got her teaching certificate in 1923 from Tempe Normal School, now ASU in Tempe. While there she was on the varsity softball and volleyball teams. Her first teaching job was in Ocotillo, and on June 6, 1924, she married Paul L. Crandall. They made their home and reared six children in Mesa. In 1937 she was contacted by Joe Jarvis, newly named Mesa recreation director, who asked her to organize a recreation program to keep the kids busy during the summer. This was the beginning of the Mesa Parks and Recreation program. She recruited a small group of volunteers workers and they taught games, dancing and songs, played sports and went swimming on Wednesdays. Each season wound up with staging of a production involving all of the children in costume. In all, Barbara directed the program for seven years. Barbara worked for a while in Maricopa County politics, was an attache in the State Legislature, a precinct committeeman and was vice chairman of the Maricopa County Democratic organization for a year. With World War II manpower shortages, Barbara went back to school, teaching fifth grade in Lehi. Besides classroom subjects, she went onto the playground and taught the boys football, baseball and basketball. The girls were instructed in volleyball, dodgeball, Jump rope and softball. Her teaching philosophy was that every child participated and had a costume in any activity. She wound up her 27 year teaching career at Lowell school in Mesa. Barbara held many ward and stake leadership and teaching positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was active in the Primary for 20 years and later in the Mutual Improvement Association (MIA), the youth organization of the Church. She was presented a Golden Gleaner recognition award for service. In 1979-80 she filled a mission with her husband for the Church in the Tulsa Oklahoma Mission. They were also ordinance workers for several years in the Arizona Temple in Mesa. She was a charter member of Phi Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma, teachers' sorority. In 1978 she was named Mesa Merit Mother and was runner-up for Arizona Mother of the Year. She was a charter member and first secretary of the Mesa Historical Society. After her retirement from teaching, Barbara organized the Arizona Ramblers Travel Club and conducted bus tours, primarily for senior citizens, throughout the United States and Canada. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Nielsen, three sons, Paul L. Jr., Wilford M. (Wil). and Dr. John A., all of Mesa, one sister, Mary Hardison, Vallejo, Ca, one brother, Russell H. Allen of Mesa. She has 19 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. Viewing will be held at Meldrum Mortuary, 52 N. Macdonald, on Monday, 6-8:00 P.M., (also one hour prior to services at the Church). Funeral services will be held Tuesday February 18, at 10:00 A.M. at Centennial Ward, 422 E. University. Interment will be at Mesa Cemetery 1212 N Center. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mesa Historical Society. Courtesy of Pat Wilson.