AUBURN – Clarence M. Cronk, 87, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, at Clover Manor.

Born in Lewiston in 1917, the son of George Cronk and Ruth Gatchell Cronk, he was raised by his grandmother, Allura Gatchell. After graduating from Edward Little High School in 1934, he worked at various jobs in Auburn.

He also worked at Bath Iron Works prior to World War II and served in the U.S. Navy during the war. For many years he was a lumber salesman for Pineland Lumber Co. and Turgeon Brothers Lumber Co. of Lewiston. He retired at age 73 from Crobb Box Co. of Ellsworth.

Mr. Cronk served as president of the Edward Little Band Parents, while his daughters were in high school. He also was a past master of Ancient Brothers 178 in Auburn, a 32nd degree Mason and a Kora Temple Shriner. He was an active member of the Kora Patrol for 22 years and served as its president. He enjoyed traveling and wintered in Florida, for 20 years in the Venice-Nokomis area.

Mr. Cronk is survived by his wife of 31 years, Florence Cronk; two daughters, Janice Cronk Marston and husband, Richard Marston, of Auburn and Judy Cronk Liberty and husband, Normand (Skip) Liberty, of Yarmouth; a son, Gregory Lillie, of Lewiston; he was very fond of his four grandchildren, Lisa Liberty Becker, of Waltham, Mass., Rick Liberty, of Seattle, Wash., Dan Marston, of Scarborough and Matt Marston, of Somerville, Mass.; he was especially proud of his great-grandson, True Liberty Becker, of Waltham, Mass.

He was predeceased by his parents, a sister, Margaret Windle, of Auburn, and a brother, Clinton Cronk, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

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