The man called by business colleagues "one of the greatest contributors to the real estate industry in the history of the Marion Board of Realtors" died Tuesday.
The death of Alonzo W. Granger came at 4 p.m. in Maplewood Nursing Center, where he was a patient since early 1975.
Mr. Granger, three of whose sons followed him into local real estate business, founded Granger Realty Company here in 1926. He was three times president of Marion Board of Realtors and in 1973 was presented a plaque by the board in recognition of his 50 years of service, along with a resolution of respect from the Ohio Senate.
Granger was active in his Delaware Avenue business until he suffered a stroke nearly three years ago. A prominent sale included land used for Southland Shopping Center.
He came to Marion in 1918 and in 1924 became a salesman for realtor Jules Barnes. Two years later he founded the company now headed by his eldest son, Carl W. Other local real estate businesses are operated by sons Paul F. and Richard L. Five grandchildren are also in the business.
Mr. Granger, 81, was a native of Commiskey, Indiana. In 1920 he married Gertrude Conway, who survives. Until his illness, the Granger family home was a farm located on DeCliff-Big Island Road.
Until then, too, he was an active member, along with the Realty Board, of the Farm Bureau, Montgomery Grange, Marion Exchange Club, Marion Area Chamber of Commerce, and Big Island Zoning Board.
He was a member of St. Mary Church here and a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.
A fourth son, Edwin V. of Ypsilanti, Mich., survives as do 4 daughters, Mrs. Richard (Marie) Zimmer of Dayton, Sister Marie, O.P.(formerly Miss Ruth), and Mrs. John (Jane) Edgington, both of Columbus, and Dr. Shirley E. of Kansas City, Mo.; A sister, Mrs. Arthur Hein of North Vernon, Ind; 29 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Services will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. Friday in St. Mary Church by the Rev. Thomas McLaughlin. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Gunder Funeral Home, where a prayer service will be held at 4 p.m.
Pallbearers, honorary pallbearers and servers at Funeral Mass are grandsons Christopher James. Lonnie and Mark Granger; Daniel Zimmer and Doug Edgington.
David Zimmer, Judson Edgington, Matthew, Kevin, Jeffrey, Martin, Kelly, Bradley and John Granger.
Michel, Marten, and Murray Granger.