Joseph Howard Crawford

Joseph Howard Crawford, 83, of 1701 Linden Dr. in Southgate, Fairfield, IA, died of heart failure Feb. 7, 2005. The body was cremated.

A Celebration of his life was held 2 PM, Sunday, February 20, 2005 at Bethesda-Unity Church, 2560 East Hwy #34 in Fairfield, IA.

He was born in Kansas City, MO on November 13, 1921, the son of Chester Arthur and Mildred Higgins Crawford. He attended schools in Kansas City and graduated from Paseo High School in 1938 and attended the University of Kansas City.

He enlisted in the Infantry just after Pearl Harbor and served in the south Pacific, first with the 24th division with Ranger Training on Oahu. After Officer Candidate School in Australia, he served as a 2nd Lieutenant, then 1st Lieutenant with the 41st Infantry until the end of WWII. His last assignment was to be in charge of disposing of armaments in Hiroshima.

Joe graduated as a Mechanical/Industrial engineer from the University of Michigan in 1950 and held various positions with Cincinnati Milling Machine, General Electric Aerospace Division and Sundstrand. He has eleven patents in his name through his work at G.E.

He married Betty Frances Lunsford in June of 1946. He was active in the Charter Party and Cincinnati School Foundation, Chairman of the Kennedy Heights Community Council, active in Boy Scouts and an elder in the Presbyterian Church for 45 years.

He leaves his wife, Betty, one son and four daughters: Peggy Jaeger of Needham, MA, Carol (David) Carlisle of Fairfield, Ia, JoAnn (Ric) Hughes of No. Chatham, NY, Alice Gail Cox (Jason) of Fairfield and Charley Crawford of Fairfield, IA.

He was grandfather of nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Charles (Marla) Brader of Fairfield, IA, Lars Rehnberg of Moline, IL, Anne Carlisle of Fairfield, IA, Leif Rehnberg of Needham, MA, Adrienne Cox of Fairfield, IA, William Carlisle of Fairfield, IA, Phillip Hughes of No. Chatham, NY, Joel Rehnberg of Needham, MA, Amelia Hughes of No. Chatham, NY. The two great-grandchildren are Natalie and Seth Brader of Fairfield, IA.

Also surviving is one sister, Rachel Fuller of Spokane, WA.

Mr. Crawford's hobbies included restoring Ford Mustangs, canoeing, feeding and watching birds, and stamp collecting. He also enjoyed flying model airplanes.

"He was a devoted father and husband and made our world run smoothly by being able to "fix" most anything." He retired in 1988 and moved to Fairfield in 1998. He enjoyed using the Fairfield Public Library, Community Concerts, Peer Group and the friendships he made living in Southgate.

Memorials may be given to the Fairfield Public Library or Hospice of Washington County.