Jon Charles Crawley, 23 Sep 1910 - 23 Feb 2006

CRAWLEY, BAKER, WARNER, SWEAT, ELWOOD

Posted By: Netha M Meyer (email)
Date: 7/5/2008 at 18:10:39

Jon Charles (Chuck) Crawley, 95, of 4735 Westchester Dr. N.E., died Thursday at St. Luke’s Hospital following a long illness. A Celebration of Life reception will be held on Saturday, March 11th from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the Cedar Rapids Marriott in the Cedar Rapids Room. Private family inurment: Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories Mausoleum. Arrangements are with the Cedar Memorial Funeral Home.

Surviving besides his wife Jean, are 2 daughters, Diane Crawley (Howard) Rattner of Cedar Rapids and Linda Crawley Chapman and friend Russ Lambert of Omaha, Nebraska, 6 grandchildren, Maureen Rattner, Jeanette Rattner, Lisa Chapman and husband Phillip Gabriel, Jennifer Chapman (Matthew) McGowan, Amy Chapman (Brad) Dunagan, Anne Chapman (John) Biegger and great grandchildren; Heather Newman, Michael Kaplan, Caitlin McGowan, Paul McGowan, Ethan Newman, Samantha Gabriel and Sarah Biegger.

He is also survived by his North English family; Stanley and Bernadine Warner, Michael and Carolyn Elwood and daughters: Kathryn Elwood (Joe) Moreland and their children Megan, Charles and John; Beth Elwood (Daniel) Faidley and their children Alex and Mary Carolyn; and Anne Elwood (Jeff) Gross.

He was born September 23, 1910 in Wellfleet, Nebraska to Samuel and Edith (Baker) Crawley and was married to Fern Warner on November 2, 1929 in Morrison, Illinois. She preceded him in death in 1989. He then married Jean Sweat in 1992 and was lovingly embraced by another family of 10 brothers and sisters, 12 nieces and nephews and 13 grand nieces and nephews.

Chuck grew up and went to elementary and high school in Perry, Iowa. He earned a BA degree from the University of Iowa and entered Law School at the university. He graduated with a Juris Doctor with honors in 1935 from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

He was in a private law practice in North English from 1935 – 1937. After that, he was Law Clerk and General Council with the Iowa Employment Security Commission in Des Moines. As General Council, he was involved in the development of the Social Security program for Iowa.

He was active in the Democratic Party of Iowa, and responded with loyalty and commitment to all the ideals of our country by enlisting in the U.S. Navy from 1943-1946. He served as an air navigator and contract administrator for the U.S. Navy.

He stayed in California after leaving the Navy and served as investment counsel to several large investors. Then in 1950, he founded his own company, Crawley’s Investment Analysis.

He returned to Iowa in 1955 where he was Contract Administrator for Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids from 1955-1969, was Vice President and Director of Contract Administration Hydro-Space Systems Corporation from 1969-1970. He retired from Collins in 1970.

Chuck was a very talented and creative person. He was a musician starting at the age of nine with violin being his main instrument. He also played the saxophone and piano. He played with dance bands and during the 1930s, developed his own band, Crawley’s Collegians. When he moved to Cedar Rapids in 1955, he resumed playing the violin with the Cedar Rapids Symphony.

He also enjoyed acting in Community Theater with his first performance being a part in “Command Decision.” in 1955. From then on, he acted in a play every year for several years.

Gifted with a curious intellect, he enjoyed traveling and studying different cultures. His travels took him to over 25 different countries.

He enjoyed writing poetry and learning, and took several classes in philosophy, religion, literature, and creative writing at Mount Mercy College. Throughout his life, Chuck kindly, graciously and lovingly touched the lives of many family and friends. Thank you Chuck.

Cedar Memorial, Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids Gazette, 26 Feb 06, 5b