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It is with great sorrow that we learned of Dr. William Bliss Crankshaw’s death on February 16, 2019. Bill’s career as a forest ecologist led to travels around the world. He moved to Winchester from Metamora, Indiana in 2001 to be near his son Ned’s family. Lucky for me, he moved to the house next door to mine, and he and his wife, Marilyn, soon became our favorite neighbors. After restoring their house to its former glory, Bill began to volunteer at his church, and I quickly recruited him to volunteer at Lower Howard’s Creek. Dr. Crankshaw brought such a wealth of knowledge and energy to LHC and we soon had a regular band of volunteers, accompanying him to work on a long list of projects within the boundaries of the Preserve. From the repair of dry-laid stone fences to the removal of honeysuckle and other exotic plants from the forest, Bill worked cheerfully and energetically to improve LHC. One of our favorite projects involved searching for historic roads in the wintertime when the foliage is gone, and then clearing these roads to become trails for our visitors. Bill led hikes for visitors to the Preserve, teaching them about the ecology of the forest, identifying plants, and interpreting the history of the site. No one could ever guess Bill’s age, because he had the energy and enthusiasm of a child!
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