Calie G. Crowder

Calie was born on September 20, 1930 in West Carroll Parish, Louisiana, to Alma Belle Crowder Pipkins. He joined the United States Air Force in 1952. After teaching electronics at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, he was accepted to pilot training. While in the Air Force, Calie earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University and his Master of Science degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio. He served as an AC-47 “Spooky” pilot during the Vietnam conflict. He retired from active duty in 1973. Calie went on to manage the Flight Safety installation in San Antonio, Texas, training pilots and mechanics in Swearingen/Fairchild aircraft.

Calie was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Bobbie Jean Smith Crowder; his sister, Dorothy Creppel; his brother, Charles Ray Crowder; and great-granddaughter Charlotte Alma Rozier. Calie is survived by his daughter, Deborah Crowder Rutherford; son Kenneth Charles Crowder; grandchildren, Jessica Leigh Crowder, Joseph William Shulter II, Elizabeth Anne Crowder Rozier, Cassandra Mariah Shulter, and Evan David Crowder; and great-granddaughter, Guinevere Calie Rozier.

Calie’s life will be honored at a private memorial service on October 1, 2022 at the Fellowship of San Antonio. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hand to Hold, https://handtohold.org, which provides support for NICU babies and families. Both of Calie’s great-granddaughters required NICU care.