William Cranston Albee

William “Bill” Cranston Albee, 98, of 501 V.E.S. Road, died at Lynchburg General Hospital on April 4, 2015. He was the husband of Karoline Seibel Happell Albee of Lynchburg and the late Eleanor S. Albee of Grafton, Mass.

William Albee, a graduate of Brown University, was born in Providence, R.I. on February 2, 1917, a son of the late Percy F. Albee and Grace A. Albee. He was predeceased by four brothers. In 1928, he went to Europe with his family and lived in Paris. While there, he attended French schools. He retired from General Electric in 1974, after having worked for thirty years in the electronics industry. In the Air Force during WWII, he taught Free French Air Force cadets how to use and service U.S. aircraft radio equipment. He was a member of the Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Lynchburg.

In addition to his wife, Karoline, he is survived by a daughter, Heather A. Michaud and her husband, Ronald of Ocean City, Md.; and his stepchildren, Renee M. Holmes, Yvette Michaud, Eric and Connie Happell and their children, Alex and Brian; and Gary and Karen Blawie Crisci and their children, Jackson, Brendan, and Mary Kay.

Bill meant so much to so many. His ability was such that there was hardly anything he wouldn’t try to accomplish, even after losing much of his sight. He was not only brilliant, but wise. He was strong, and yet so gentle. He was a gentleman who will be loved and missed by all, especially his family.

A memorial service will be held at Westminster-Canterbury at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2015, followed by a visitation with the family in the Hume Room. Interment will be in Grafton, Mass.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060, or to Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 2424 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503.

Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is assisting the family. To send condolences please visit obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.