John Allen Crownover

CROWNOVER, JOHN ALLEN. October 7, 2009, we lost the brightest light in our lives, our beloved "Papa," John Allen Crownover. John Allen Crownover was born on 6-4-1919 to Buelah and Theodore in Stillwater, Oklahoma. John and his wife of 70 years, Mildred, moved to Miami, FL the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941. He had a love for aviation and it continued throughout his life. He started with Eastern Airlines in 1941 as a mechanic and worked his way through the aviation field. He became a pilot and loved to travel, especially to South America. He created his own business named Crownover Aircraft, where he was owner and CEO. Everyone at MIA knew him and the Crownover name. He worked for 20 years at Airtech Services as Director of Metal Fabrication. In his retirement years, he did volunteer work for Baptist Hospital in Kendall where he was the cart driver. He also volunteered at St. Brendan's Elementary School in Westchester. He had a workshop full of tools and was known to many as "Mr. Fix-It." He could fix anything, and loved to help people. He created many wooden figures and would give them away. It gave him great pleasure to help others out, and he never hesitated to help anyone. John loved listening to country music. He was a member of the Shriners and also the Masonic Lodge for over 60 years. He was very dedicated to all that he did. He was a silent contributor to many charities, especially for children's cancer and Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy. His love of golf was important to him, and he started out as a caddy and worked himself up to golfer and played in numerous tournaments. He played golf with Johnny Weismuller and also in the Pro-Am Tournament with Pro Bobby Nichols. He was a true gentle man. He had much joy for life, much intelligence, and great common sense. He had such a knack for telling jokes and he would laugh the hardest as he told his jokes. He would share so many stories about his fascinating trips and life experiences with his family and friends. He touched so many lives and will be sorely missed. We will always hold him in our hearts. John was predeceased by his son Donald E. Crownover, and grandsons, Timothy Lee and Christopher John Crownover. He leaves behind his caring wife of 70 years, Mildred, his son Theodore (daughter-in-law Gay), his beloved daughter Nancy Crownover- Bourke, and "favorite "son-in- law, Kenneth. He is survived by grandchildren Ashleigh, Kathryn, Katelyn, Kenny and Michael, Beth, Rosalie, and Bobby Lee, as well as many great-grandchildren. We wish to thank Catholic Hospice. Goodbye our sweet Papa. A visitation will take place Friday, 10-9-2009 from 1PM-7 PM with a religious service at 3PM. VAN ORSDEL-BIRD ROAD CHAPEL 9300 SW 40 St. (305) 553-0064 Family Owned Since 1924 www.vanorsdel.com To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.