John B. "Jack" Crockford,

John B. “Jack” Crockford, Sr., died Sunday, June 19, 2011. He was born April 24, 1920 in Boston, MA. At a young age, Jack moved to Cleveland, OH with his mother, and was a 1938 graduate of Lakewood High School.

Jack received his BS in Electrical Engineering from Purdue. Jack first gained employment at Westinghouse in Lima, he continued working into his 80’s, as a manufacturer’s representative first in the Lima area then moving to Columbus in 1987.

In 1960, Jack married his first wife, Caroline. To this union was born his only child, John, Jr. After Caroline’s death, Jack married his childhood friend, Annette, who passed away in 2005. Jack was a devout Christian, a member of Grace Brethren Church, a Gideon, a 50 plus year Mason, and a life alumnus of Purdue Alumni Assoc. Jack loved OSU and Purdue sports, but always rooted for Purdue when they played each other.

He always stayed true to his New Englander roots, especially when ordering clam chowder. Jack enjoyed European travel in his early years and later enjoyed two trips to the Holy Land. He always liked taking vacations to the beach, playing card games, and the arts. Everyone liked Jack, and he will be remembered for his fun loving, caring, do-anything for anyone attitude and for being the world’s greatest dad.

Preceded in death by his first wife, Caroline; second wife, Annette; and parents, Joseph and Emma. Jack will be missed by his loving son, John Jr. (Gwen) Crockford; stepchildren, Elizabeth (Doug) Tidd, Steven (Laurie) Orlow, and Eric Orlow; step-grandchildren, Sarah Tidd, Nathan, Jeremy, Anna, Bethany, Emily, and Christopher Orlow; and half-brother, Joseph Crockford.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 9, 2011 at Grace Brethren Church, 8225 Worthington Galena Rd., Westerville, OH, 43085, Rev. Jim Custer, officiating.

Contributions may be made in Jack’s memory to Grace Brethren Church, Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214 or the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 06324, Columbus, OH 43206. To view Jack’s video tribute or offer condolences, visit www.schoedinger.com. Arrangements entrusted to Schoedinger Northwest Chapel (614) 457-5481.