Charles Gordon Crawford

After graduation from Tallapoosa High School, Charles attended North Georgia Military School and then John Marshall Law School in Atlanta. He is a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army, assigned first to the intelligence corps and then to the medical corps.

Charles spent the majority of his working life employed by Southern Railway (Norfolk Southern) as a claim agent, retiring as district claim agent (covering four states) in 1984. His work with Southern Railway carried him and his family from Birmingham, to New Orleans, LA, Meridian, MS and back to Birmingham.

Charles was a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) He participated in many regional and national claims associations and held several association offices. He was a Mason, Scottish Rite and Shriner. Charles was an avid golfer and a member of Chase Lake County Club.

Charles is survived by his wife of 68 years, Laurel Geraldine Denmark, sons William Edward (Hope), Fred Charles (Carol), and John David, his grandchildren Andrew, Mathew, and Charles Edward Crawford, Kelley Romanowski, Hollis Marshall, Laurel Marie Crawford and Mary Josephine Crawford and great-grandchildren, Cassidy Crawford, Anne Scott and Crawford Romanowski, and Huntley, Madeline and William Marshall.

Charles was preceded in death by his father, Charles Edward, his mother Julia Head and his sisters, Frances Cole and Florence Barnes.

Visitation will be held at Valley Christian Church (off Hwy 280) on Sunday January 2, 2011 at 1:00 pm followed by a memorial service at 2:00 pm. Interment will be at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that memorial donations be made to Valley Christian Church, 2600 Cherokee Place, Birmingham, Alabama 35216.

Services under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel, Homewood, AL.