William Travis Crawford

William Travis Crawford of Longmont passed away peacefully, at age 94, on August 18, 2025, surrounded by family. Bill was born on June 7, 1931, in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee to James Walter Crawford and Estelle (Bethel) Crawford.

After graduating from Lawrence County High School and attending the University of Tennessee for one year, Bill was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, where he graduated in 1954 as an ensign in the U.S. Navy. In May of 1963 he married Mary Elizabeth Going in Newport, Rhode Island. During his twenty-two year naval career, his sea duty included serving as second in command of three naval ships as well as serving as the commanding officer of three additional naval ships. While in the Navy, he also received a master of science degree from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California and taught mathematics and operations analysis at the Naval Academy. Bill enjoyed seeing the world during his naval career; he lived with his family in Gaeta, Italy for three years, circumnavigated South America, and visited many countries. After retiring from the Navy in 1975, he worked as a defense analyst for seven years at Operations Research Incorporated in Rockville, Maryland and then worked for thirteen years at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory also in Maryland, as a senior engineer on various naval combat system-related projects.

In 1995, Bill retired from Johns Hopkins and he and Mary moved to Colorado, where they enjoyed many happy years. Bill was the loving father of William Crawford, Jr (Ann) of Huntsville, AL; Susan Sullivan (Gerry) of Shrewsbury, MA; Sally Gillett (Bernard) of Longmont, CO, and Thomas Crawford (Yancey) of Blacksburg, VA. He was the adored Grandaddy of fourteen grandchildren: Barret Crawford, Leah (Crawford) Gicewicz; John, Margaret, Sarah and Bridget Sullivan; Katherine Gillett, Claire (Gillett) Miller, Mary (Gillett) Curtis, Elise (Gillett) Palazzo, and Jeremy Gillett; Monica, Erin, and Virginia Crawford, and great grandson Walter Travis Gicewicz. He was predeceased by his beloved Mary, who died almost exactly one year ago, as well as his parents and his brothers James Crawford and Nathan Crawford.

Bill will be remembered for his heart of service and his beautiful music on piano and organ. He volunteered regularly in nursing homes for close to 40 years of his life, continuing until he was almost 90 visiting and playing music weekly and enlisting his children and grandchildren in putting on “Big Big Shows.” A devout Catholic, Bill played music at Mass for many years in the parishes he belonged to as well as organizing Bible studies and ministry groups over the years. He lived out his faith through the numerous ways he reached out to people in need, including serving as an OUR Center social services volunteer for 20 years in retirement. He enjoyed reading histories and biographies, playing bridge, and staying connected with his Class of ‘54 Naval Academy classmates throughout his life. The most important part of Bill’s life was his wife Mary and his children and grandchildren. His exuberant personality has left a lasting impact on all who knew him.

The family extends a special thank you to Christi Murphy and Chelly Rangel for their unwavering kindness, support, and dedication in helping care for both Bill and Mary during their final years.

Bill’s life will be celebrated in a vigil rosary on August 28 at 7pm at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Longmont, and a funeral Mass on August 29 at 10:30 am, also at St Francis of Assisi.