CALVIN D. CRAWFORD

CRAWFORD
CALVIN D.
Age 101, passed away peacefully on Oct. 1 2014, at Redstone Highlands in Greensburg. Mr. Crawford grew up in Penn Hills, lived in Churchill for many years, and recently lived in Murrysville with his beloved wife, Margaret Crawford, who predeceased him. Mr. Crawford was the son of Charles and Nora Crawford. He went to Wilkinsburg High School and graduated from Washington and Jefferson College with a B.S. degree in 1935. While in college, he was the president of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and captain of the wrestling team. Mr. Crawford married Margaret Swan in 1941 and joined the Navy shortly after. He was the captain of an LCT ship and group commander of six ships involved in the battle of Okinawa during WWII. After returning home after the war, he started Crawford Construction Co. and built close to 5,000 homes over a 50-year period. Later he branched out and was president and founder of six corporations: Crawford Realty Co., Crawford Homes, Parkway Associates, Style-Rite Kitchens, C.D. Crawford Co., and Calmar Equipment. He was a past president of the Home Builders of Pittsburgh in 1957 and 1958. He served on the board of directors of Standard Bank for many years and was chairman of the board at one time. He also served on the Board of Directors for Columbia Hospital and was chairman of the building committee during the construction of the Forbes Hospital in Monroeville. Mr. Crawford served Beulah Presbyterian Church as an elder and was on the building committee when the church added an addition. Mr. Crawford was also very active in the Boy Scouts of America and received the Silver Beaver award for his service to the Boy Scouts. During his time as president of the East Boroughs Council, he was instrumental in getting a new county park in Plum named Boyce after the founder of the Boy Scouts who was born not far from the park. Mr. Crawford was president of the Penn Hills Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chairman of the Penn Hills YMCA. He was an avid golfer and belonged to three country clubs in Pittsburgh, Ligonier and Florida. Mr. Crawford and his wife, Margaret, spent winters in Dunedin, Florida where they owned a condo on the bay and enjoyed boating and fishing. Mr. Crawford enjoyed spending time during the summer months at his lake house in Ligonier where he had many friends. Mr. Crawford is survived by his son, Richard C. Crawford; and daughter-in-law, Annita Crawford. He had three grandchildren, Karen Pagano, Ken Crawford and Robert Crawford. He also had four great-grandchildren, Christopher Pagano, Ryan Pagano, Aiden Crawford and Greyson Crawford. Friends received WOLFE MEMORIAL, INC., Forest Hills Chapel, 3604 Greensburg Pike, 412-731-5001, SUNDAY ONLY 2-4, 6-8 p.m. Service Monday 10:30 a.m. at Beulah Presbyterian Church. EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Beulah Presbyterian Church, 2500 McCrady Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15235, in Calvin's memory.
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