Dr. R. Paul Crank, Jr,

Rawser Paul Crank, Jr, age 93 of Cumming, Ga., died at Accents Hospice on May 27,2023 from post-op complications from bleeding diverticula.

Paul was born March 13, 1930, in Providence, Rhode Island tp Dr. Rawser Paul Crank, Sr. and Elizabeth Sandison Crank. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Elizabeth Ruth Crank, brother, William Seth Crank, and 3 children, Paul, Amy, and Lynn Crank. Survivors include his loving wife, Barbara, of 46 years, 2 children, Betsy and Charlie Crank, and 3 step-children, Laurie Skokanic, Leanne Howard Roberts, Bob Alston, sons-in-law Dr. Paul Skokanic and Lester Roberts and 7 grandchildren (Rafael and Sophia Skokanic, Rawer and Reagan Howard, Aubrey and Riggins Alston and Andrew Stringer). Other close survivors include his sister and brother- in-law Mary and John Brennecke

Paul received a BA degree in Music from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island followed by MA studies in Musicology from Washington University, St.Louis, Mo. and completion of pre-med studies there, also. He attended medical school at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. Arkansas and finished at Washington University in St.Louis.

Internship in Internal Medicine at St. Louis city hospital was followed by a stint in the U.S. Public Health Service lipid metabolism lab in Charleston, South, Carolina. Internal medicine residency and Cardiology fellowship under Dr.J. Willis Hurst were done at Grady Memorial hospital in Atlanta, Ga. Paul served a year as Assistant Director of the Stroke and Vascular Division of the U.S. Public Health Service in Washington, D.C.and another year as Associate Professor in Cardiology at Emory University School of Medicine. 29 years of private practice in Internal Medicine and Cardiology were affiliated with Dekalb Medical Center. Director of Medical Affairs there for 5 years followed his retirement from private practice. He concluded his medical career after 20 years of working for Social Security for the state of Georgia and retiring from there at age 90.

Paul was a past member of the American Medical Society, Medical Association of Georgia, and Dekalb Medical Society. At Dekall Medical Center, he was on numerous professional committees such as enacting "The Fair Treatment Policy" dealing with harassment and abuse. He also lectured on Medical Ethics at a DMC retreat. Around 1970, he was co-founder of the Scottdale Clinic, a free clinic for the care of medically indigent persons.

Paul sang with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and the Atlanta Choral Society for 2 years. He was president and on the board of the Atlanta Bach choir as well as sang with the choir for 2 years. Some of his vocal performances included solo recitals and choral and operatic roles in LeNozzedi di Figaro, Coci Fan Tutte, Falstaff, LaBoheme, Amahl, Messiah, Elijah, Brahms German requiem, Mozart requiem.

Paul was always very active in the community church where we lived, singing in the Chancel choir at Tucker Methodist, Eastminster Presbyterian, and Roswell Presbyterian. He served and chaired numerous church committees such as the Christian Arts Committee, long range planning committee, search committee for new choir director, Administrative Board, new organ committee, youth council and chaperoned youth choir tours to Texas and England, pastor-parish committee, drama committee and played the part of Christ in 2 Lenten dramas as well as performed in other productions. He has written choral responses, poems, and a hymn of dedication for Eastminster church.

Paul's love for plants and gardening almost equalled his passion for medicine and music. He developed 3 tour worthy gardens in his previous homes. He actually would fall asleep at night reading The Southern Living Garden Book which added to his encyclopedic knowledge of plants. Paul worked with his wife in landscaping the grounds of Hearthstone Maternity home in Tucker, Ga. and helped to maintain the property with monthly visits for 2 years along with her garden club. He also worked with his wife in landscaping and maintaining the atrium at Meadowbrook Nursing Home in Tucker,Ga. for 4 years along with her garden club.

He performed football physicals for school children for several years.

Other past memberships include the Georgia Perennial Plant Association, Hydrangea society, Atlanta Botanical Garden, High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Symphony, and Alliance Theater for 20 plus years.

One of the highlights of Paul's medical career was receiving the Julius McCurdy award, chosen by his peers, for outstanding care and service to Dekalb Medical Center and the community.

His interests would not be complete without mentioning his love of fishing, especially in the Florida Keys, his woodworking and building skills, and most importantly, mentoring his children and grandchildren. He spent 12 years filming all of son Bob's football games

Paul's whole life has been one of great love, equanimity, and constant service. He was accepting and non-judgmental of all people, always finding something positive in each person with whom he came in contact. One of his great joys was always helping others and seeing them excel, while always being in the background, not wanting to take credit for such a special gift of bringing out the best in others. Paul was truly one of God's angels on earth. 

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Roswell Presbyterian Church in Roswell, GA.

Memorials may be made to the Organ Enhancement Fund-Roswell Presbyterian Church.

Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming, Georgia is in charge of arrangements.