In Memoriam: Robert Crawford, Jr.

    Jesus said, " Let not your heart be troubled:  Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so , I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."
    On Thursday, January 8, Bob Crawford passed away at his home in Central at the age of 89 and went to be with his Lord Jesus Christ.  A loving and generous husband, father, grandfather and friend, Bob was born June 27, 1925 in Natalbany, Louisiana where his father was employed at the Natalbany Lumber Company.   Before starting school his family moved to Baton Rouge and settled in the "Garden City" area of North Baton Rouge within walking distance of the Standard Oil Refinery where he enjoyed many happy years living near family and friends in that close knit community.  Always a hard and diligent worker, he got his first job at twelve years of age delivering groceries on his bicycle for Branum's Grocery and in high school worked loading milk and ice cream trucks at the old Louisiana Creamery on Choctaw. 
    Bob graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1942, after which he enrolled in LSU to study Mechanical Engineering. He interrupted his college studies to proudly  serve his country during World War II in the United States Army Air Forces as a bombardier pilot.    After the war, he returned to LSU and completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1950.
    As a registered professional mechanical engineer, he was employed by several petrochemical businesses in the area, including Standard Oil, Solvay Process, and Uniroyal, before opening an industrial tool sales company of his own, CRC Incorporated of Louisiana. He was a member of Zoar Baptist Church and a former member of Istrouma and Trinity Baptist Churches. He belonged to the Central Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge.
    After retirement he enjoyed a full life of volunteerism doing what he loved most – helping others.  He especially enjoyed being a part of the Zoar Baptist Church Men's "Tuesday Work Crew," donating  many hours to various construction projects in need. With this group he was part of the building program of the Judson Baptist Retreat Center in St. Francisville where the work crew completed a beautiful chapel for the retreat center. He also was able to travel some and spend time working on his family's old place he dearly loved in the piney woods of "Sweetwater Branch" Independence. 
    Bob is survived by his loving wife of  62 years,  Jodie Mae Fridge Crawford; a daughter, Elva Jo Crawford; four sons, Robert  B. "Benny" Crawford III and his wife Myra, Charlie Crawford, Barry Crawford and his wife Amy, and Larry Crawford and his wife Vickie; six grandchildren, Caleb Crawford and his wife Paige, Kirby Crawford, Casey Crawford and his wife Jackie,  Tori Weatherly and her husband Chase, Kendal Crawford, and Caroline Crawford; and four great-grandchildren Camden, Jillian, Keagan, and Grayson Crawford.
    Preceeded in death by his parents Rob and Elva Crawford; two aunts, Clotile Fauntleroy and Lula Mae Swinney; four uncles, Walter Crawford, Ruben Crawford, Monroe Williams, and Ernest Williams; and a special cousin and friend Robert C. Alford.
    Pallbearers will be his four sons and two grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be L.W. Alexander, Clint Carraway, Toby Forshag, Maurice Herpin, Guy Jenkins,  Howard Martin,  Jimmy Spangler and Tom Wilbanks.
    In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Judson Baptist Retreat Center's Renovation Fund at 10330 Peterson Road, St. Francisville, Louisiana 70775 or the charity of your choice.
    Visitation was held Friday and Saturday, January 9 and 10, at Zoar Baptist Church, with funeral services immediately following at the church conducted by Dr. Kevin Hand, Rev. Glen Miers and Rev. Caleb Crawford. Music by Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Hand and Mrs. Lola Hill. Burial was at the Zoar Baptist Cemetery.
    Special thanks to Rev. Dennis McAnnally, Dr. Stephen Speeg and his staff, the staff at Lane Hospital,  the staff of Home Instead Senior Care Givers, and the staff of Hospice Compassus.
    Please share memories at the online guest book:  www.churchfuneralservices.com