Charles Estill Crawford

Charles Estil Crawford was born on May 12, 1936, in Austin, Kentucky, and passed away on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis, IN.

On October 26, 1967, in Tulsa, OK, he was united in marriage in the eyes of God to Margaret Burnley and is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years. He affectionately referred to Margaret as “Faye”. He is also survived by one sister, Emma J. Barfield of Bowie, MD ; one sister-in-law, Gerlean Crawford of West Palm Beach, FL; three beloved first cousins, Judith Mason Johnson of Cincinnati, OH, Richard Lewis of Milwaukee, WI, and Dorothy Bibbs of Lexington, KY; and five nieces, three nephews, and a host of great nieces and nephews.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, C.H. Crawford and Maude Lee Crawford; two brothers, Clyde Crawford, Jr. and Oscar Henry Crawford; and an infant sister, Gertrude Crawford.

After finishing high school in Bowling Green, KY, Charles went on to graduate from college and earn a master’s degree from Western Kentucky University. In 1961 Charles moved to Indianapolis and began a teaching career that continued for 43 years with the Indianapolis Public School system. He was a dedicated math teacher to many elementary school students.

Charles loved his family. To his baby sister, Charles was her defender. Once when their mother was disciplining his sister, Charles stepped in between them and ended up getting the brunt of the discipline that was intended for her. To his nieces and nephews, Charles, whom they affectionately called “Steebo” or “Uncle Chuck”, was the fun uncle. As younger kids, they would play a game where they would beckon for Charles to race up the stairs for an important phone call only for him to realize that no one was on the phone when he got to it. Regardless of their age, Uncle Chuck always remembered their birthdays by sending them a card with a two-dollar bill tucked inside.

Above all else, Charles loved the Lord. He and his wife, Margaret, worshipped with the saints at Fisher’s Church of Christ where he was a faithful member and true soldier for the cause of Christ until the day of his passing. Like the apostle Paul, Charles can say with confidence that he fought the good fight, he finished the race, he kept the faith. Now there is in store for him the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to him on that day.