Born March 9th, 1924 in Butler, PA Chuck served in the U.S. Army Airforce, European Theatre, from 1942 to 1945, attended Cornell University and The Alexander Hamilton Institute. He married Patricia Beebe in Olean, NY and enjoyed 59 years with “the most delightful girl in the world”. They had two children, Charles Crawford, III and Kimberly Crawford Furman.
Chuck enjoyed a long successful career in the wood products industry which brought him to Hickory, in 1961 as the VP and General Manager of Hutton Bourbonnais. He later opened Satellite Communications as his second career.
Chuck served on the Board of Directors of Wachovia Bank for 30 years. He was also a member of the Masons, a Rotarian, a member of the Hickory Elks Lodge and was involved with the United Way.
Entertaining friends and family was his passion, from fresh baked bread and soup parties in the winter to planning pontoon flotillas on Lake Hickory in the summer months. Chuck always had a story and a few new jokes to share but he will always be best known for his big smile and his love of family, and friends. In his later years he found immense pleasure walking among the trees on his property or simply watching the birds that so frequently surrounded him.
Chuck was blessed by the personal attention he received from the lovely caregivers from Interim HealthCare and his dear friends and neighbors who stopped by on a regular basis for a visit and perhaps a story from the past.
The family will be receiving friends at Drum Funeral Home at 11:00 on Friday May 25th followed by a service at 11:30 with Rev. Paul Christy officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Hickory Museum of Art, 243 3rd Ave NE, Hickory, NC 28601.
Condolences may be sent to the Crawford family at www.drumfh-hickory.com.
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