John William Crawford

John William Crawford, 94, of Columbus, GA, died Friday, June 24th at home surrounded by his loving family. A Visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday, June 27th 2016 in the St. Elmo Room at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary from 11:30am-12:30pm. A Private Service and Burial for the family will follow with the Reverands Slate Fluker and Cynthia Garrard officiating at Parkhill Cemetery.

Mr. Crawford was born July 25, 1921, in Americus, GA. He was the son of the late Harry Nathaniel Crawford and the late Rhoda Mew Crawford. He grew up in Americus, GA where he attended Americus High School. Mr. Crawford went on to attend Georgia Tech on football and baseball scholarships. He graduated from Tech with a degree in Industrial Management. Mr. Crawford served in World War II, as a pilot of a B24 Bomber in the 15th Air Force, flying missions over Italy and Germany.

Following the war, Mr. Crawford moved to Columbus and worked and retired from Mead Containers as a District Sales Manager. He was a member and past president of the Georgia Institute of Technology Alumni Association, longtime member of the Columbus Country Club, and the Downtown Rotary Club. He was also a longtime member of St. Luke United Methodist Church.

Mr. Crawford is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Louie Thomason Crawford; two daughters, Mary Lou Crawford Swift (Mat) of Columbus, Cindy Hewlett Miller (Tommy) of Atlanta; five grandchildren, Lindsay Swift Fluker (Slate), Lucile Swift Branch (Jason), Catherine Swift Addison (Luke), Emily Hewlett Scruggs (Andrew), William Harrison Hewlett; brother, Paul M. Crawford of Atlanta; eleven great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Harry N. Crawford of Atlanta, Daniel C. Crawford of Savannah, Timothy V. Crawford of Jacksonville, FL.; sisters, Mary Moylan Crawford of Americus, and Rhoda Teresa (Joan) Crawford of Greenville, SC.

The family wishes to thank Columbus Hospice nurse Lynn Meharg for her excellent care and Mr. Crawford’s special friends and caretakers, Alec Collier and Ida Mae Hill. The family would also like to thank caretakers: Debbie Stone, Bernice White, Pamyla Price, Rhonda Robinson, and Yolanda Short.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Columbus Hospice House, www.columbushospice.org, or St. Luke United Methodist Church, 318 11th St, Columbus, GA 31901.