George W. CRAWFORD

CRAWFORD, BURGESS, COBURN, DIRKS, LANGE, MEINTS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/3/2009 at 09:17:33

BELMOND - George W. Crawford, 97, of Belmond, died peacefully in his sleep Wednesday (April 1, 2009) at the Belmond Health Care Center, Belmond. Funeral services will be held, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4, 2009, at the Evangelical Free Church, Highway 69, just north of Belmond, with the Rev. Patrick Kennedy officiating. George will be laid to rest beside his wife Ardith in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today, Friday, April 3, 2009, at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E. Belmond, and continue one hour prior to the services.

George was born on July 31, 1911, on a farm near Burdett, Iowa, to William and Lura (Burgess) Crawford. He attended rural school in the Eldora. George began working as a hired man when he was 16 years old for room and board. He was united in marriage to Ardith Coburn, of Rowan, Iowa, on Nov. 16, 1935, in Hampton. Ardith preceded George in death on May 26, 1986. George was a hardworking man his entire career which included a variety of vocations. In addition to being employed as a hired man in his earlier years he had worked as a carpenter. He had also hauled cream from farm to the creamery in Dows, using a Model A Ford he had converted into a pickup truck. George had operated a gas station in Clarion, and had worked in a fruit drying yard in Modesto, Calif., in 1940. George farmed for a period of time with his mother-in-law near Popejoy, Iowa. In March of 1947, George and Ardith moved to a farm west of Belmond, where they lived and raised their family for many years. In addition to his active work life, George generously gave of his time to various boards and organizations, including serving as a board member for Belmond Township No.6 School, the Wright County Farm Bureau, and the Belmond Creamery Board for 22 years. George was a member of the North Iowa State Dairy Association, and a board member of the Wright and Franklin County Dairy Quality Control. He delivered Winnebago Motor Homes to dealers all over the United States for five years. He then worked for the We-3 Stores until he was 70 years old. George enjoyed antiquing in retirement, daily trips to the local pharmacy for coffee and conversation with his many friends, dining out, times spent with his family and the companionship of his special friend Rose Dirks. He was an Odd Fellows Lodge member for over 50 years. He attended the Evangelical Free Church at Belmond.

George's life will be remembered by his three sons, George (wife Patricia) Crawford, of Milton, David (wife Karen) Crawford, and Jon (wife Diane), both of Belmond; a sister, Mildred Lange, of Iowa Falls; eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren, seven stepgreat-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews, and his special friend, Rose Dirks, of Belmond. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Glynn; a sister, Doris; and a stepgreat grandson, Benjiman Meints. Andrews Funeral Home.

Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa
April 3, 2009