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George Carrol “Tarz” Ranous, 93, a resident of the Town of Oswego, passed away peacefully November 3, 2016 at home.
Mr. Ranous was born in Minetto and was the son of the late Fred and Cecil (Robbins) Ranous and lived most of his life in Oswego.
Mr. Ranous was a veteran of WWII, enlisting as a Marine and serving with the famed 4th Marine Division during the American victory of the Battle of Saipan, June 1944. He graduated SUNY College of Technology in 1947. Prior to his retirement in 1984, he was Superintendent of Niagara Mohawk’s Oswego Steam Station where he worked for 35 years. A baptized Methodist, he regularly attended St. Mary’s Church for over 40 years.
He was an exceptional athlete who, as a teenager, earned the nickname “Tarzan” for his expert diving off of the Minetto Bridge. He also enjoyed travel and annual vacations with his wife, family and friends in Canada and Florida where he would participate in many sports, including waterskiing and volleyball. Over the years, he won many championships in shuffleboard, tennis and bocce ball. He famously celebrated his 90th birthday parasailing at Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
He was married for almost 68 years to the late Eileen M. (McGrath) Ranous who died in 2015, and was the father of five children. He is survived by his sisters Mrs. Harry (Arlene) Knopp and Mrs. Fred (Emily) Dumas of Minetto, a daughter, Cindy (Ron) Hall, of Oswego; four sons, George (Paula) Ranous Jr. and Brian (Kathy) Ranous, both of Oswego; James (Barbara) Ranous of Ballston Lake, NY and Richard (Gail) Ranous of Ballston Spa, NY, 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his three brothers, Herbert C., Fred Jr. and Theodore A. Ranous and a sister, Ardell Tonkin.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday in St. Mary's Church. Entombment will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery, All-Saints Mausoleum.
Calling hours will be held at Nelson Funeral Home, 11 West Albany Street, Oswego from 2:00PM- 5:00PM Sunday, November 6, 2016.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Wounded Warrior Project or Oswego County Hospice.
