George Ellis Ranney formerly of Greenville and Plant City Florida now of Grand Rapids died Friday February 15,2008 at Blodgett Hospital Grand Rapids. He was born in Belding on July 28,1916 the son of Ellis W. and Teresa Bristol Ranney and lived in Greenville during his youth. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1934 later serving as president of the Alumni. He graduated from Michigan State University with an Engineering degree in 1938 and was president of his fraternity in 1937, the Hesperian Society now Psi Upsilon Fraternity and he served on the Alumni Advisory Committee for several years. He received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1940.
He married Dorothy Lucille Garlock on June 19,1940 in East Lansing, MI. They lived in Yonkers, NY until 1942 where he was employed by the Alexander Smith Carpet Co now Mohasco Industries as Assistant Chief Accountant. From 1942 to 1944 he lived in Lansing and was employed by Reo Motors as Assistant Controller. In 1944 he returned to Greenville to join the family firm, Ranney Refrigerator Co. He worked for the Ranney Co until it was merged into Fedders Corp in 1970, advancing from Cost Estimator, to Treasurer and General Manager, to Chairman of the Board at the time of the merger.
From 1958 until 1986 he was on the Board of the Commercial State Savings Bank and in 1971 was named President of the Bank. In 1985, he was succeeded by Ted Kortes as President and was made Chairman of the board. In 1986 the Bank was merged into CBS Corp (FMB) a holding company and he retired from all activities.
He was a lifelong member of the Congregational Church and served as Sunday School Superintendent, member Board of Trustees for 6 years and was Chairman of the Board, member of the Board of Deacons for 6 years and was Chairman of the board, church Moderator for one year, and many committees of the Church.
He was president of the Greenville Rotary Club, President of the Greenville Country Club, President of the Washington Club of Greenville-Belding, President of Group IV of the Michigan Bankers Association, President of Sigma Theta Fraternity of Greenville and Regional Executive of the Sports Car Club of America.
He was a life member of the United Memorial Hospital and a life member of the Flat River Historical Society. He also was a life member of the Greenville Masonic Lodge, Grand Rapids Consistory (32nd Degree) and Saladin Shrine Temple.
He was a member of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Community Action Committee. He was Co-chairman of the Greenville Centennial held in 1948 and was Co-chairman of the Major Gifts division of the United Memorial Hospital fund drive to build the hospital.
He was a member of the Industrial Development Corp of Greenville which was instrumental in bringing Ore Ida Foods and many retail establishments to Greenville.
He was active in the Theater Arts Guild of Greenville and acted in and worked back stage in many of their performances in Forties.
His Honors include the Marian Kemp Outstanding Citizen award in 1986, and with his wife was Grand Marshall of the Danish Festival Parade in 1987.
He was preceded in death by his son George Ellis II in 1951 and his sisters; Mary Emilie Whitelaw, June Lyman, Ruth Young and his brother F.B. Ranney
Surviving are his wife of 67 years, Dorothy (Dottie) Ranney of Grand Rapids, his son and wife John T. and Linda Ranney of Grand Rapids, his daughter Teresa (Terry) and her husband Robert Taylor of Houghton Lake, MI and Nokomis, Florida, their Finnish Exchange daughter Kirsti Maki of San Francisco CA, sister in law, Helen Garlock of Plant City FL and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial Services will be held on Friday February 29, 2008 at 11 AM from the First Congregational Church of Greenville with Rev. Jerrold T. Jones officiating. Burial will be in Forest Home Cemetery, Greenville. Memorial contributions may be given to Greenville Area Community Foundation or a charity of your choice. Hurst Funeral Home is serving the Ranney family
