ROCKBRIDGE – Harold Franklin Crawford, 99 of Rockbridge, Ohio left from his childhoodhome of 96 years to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the morning of July 4, 2019, surrounded by his family.
Harold was born Feb. 11, 1920, to Zora A. Crawford and Florence Eva (Walker) Crawford.
He was a 1938 graduate of Rockbridge High School, one of eight in his class. He left the home farm to volunteer to serve in the Army, with training as a sharp shooter and driver/mechanic in the Tank Destroyer Unit of the 8th Army. He served his country from 1942 through 1945 during World War II in the Western Pacific Theatre (New Guinea, southern Philippines, and Japan) as a staff sergeant in the motor pool. He was the driver of the staff car that met General Wainwright after his release as a POW of the Japanese. Being one of the first companies to enter Hiroshima after the atomic bomb, he witnessed the ravages of war and was rather quiet about his experiences there. Upon his discharge from the Army he returned to farming and also worked for Kishler Trucking, hauling for Logan Clay Company. He retired from the Carborundum Company where he was known for his productive and diligent work in the Finishing Department for 25 years.
Harold was married for 66 years to Betty (Hansley) Crawford, who preceded him in death in 2013.
He has been a board member and faithful lifetime worker/supporter of the Fairview United Methodist Church and Cemetery Association until recent years when his health limited his active participation. He was a Gideon and supported their mission to distribute God’s Word. In 2002, at the age of 82, he was inducted into the Buckeye Big Bucks Club and honored as their Senior Hunter of the Year by taking a non-typical buck scoring 168 4/8 points. This was one of his most treasured achievements, being a life long, consummate hunter.
Surviving are his two children; daughter, Charlotte (Robert) Harlow of Logan and son, David (Barbara) Crawford of Rockbridge; brothers, Clifford (Martha) Crawford of Logan and Roy Crawford of Chillicothe. Grandchildren, Jarrod Crawford of Logan and Benjamin (Stacey) Crawford of Logan; four great-grandchildren, Silas, Cohen, Sawyer and Kaydence Crawford; and many nieces and nephews and their children too numerous to list here.
His younger brother, Kenneth Crawford also preceded him to heaven. Carrie Crawford, his granddaughter-in-law and sisters-in-law, Joaquin Crawford, Gaynell Crawford and Helen Crawford are also part of the heavenly welcoming committee. He will be missed by many who enjoyed his quiet, unassuming personality.
Calling hours for celebrating Harold’s life were observed at Heinlein-Brown Funeral Home on Sunday, July 7, 2019, from 2:00-6:00 pm and for an hour prior to the Going Home Service on Monday, July 8, 2019 at 10:00 am at Fairview UM Church, Rockbridge, OH, with Rev. John Williams and Pastor Beverly Stahr officiating. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery Rockbridge, Ohio. Military Graveside Services were held by the Hocking County Honor Guard.
Contributions may be given to Fairview UM Church, FairHoPe Hospice Care (Lancaster) who provided wonderful care at home, or the Gideons International organization for distributing Bibles.
Letters of condolence may be sent to the family from www.brownfuneralservice.net.