Robert Crawford

Robert Crawford, Sr. STATESVILLE Robert (Bob) Clifton Crawford, Sr. died Thursday, June 28, 2012, after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer. Bob was born June 16, 1935. He was the second son of the late Fred Niblock Crawford and Mary Bradford Craw-ford. Bob grew up in the First Presbyterian Church and was affect-ionately known there in his early childhood years as "Bobby Cliff", named for grandfathers Robert Lee Bradford and John Clifton Crawford. He was a graduate of Statesville City Schools and Erskine College. Upon graduation from Erskine, he worked briefly with the U.S. Postal Service in Statesville. He began employment with J.C. Steele and Sons, Inc. in l966 in the accounting department and retired as purchasing agent after 31 years of service with the company. He married Juanita "Nickie" Elledge at the First Presbyterian Church on June 1, 1957. When Forest Park Presbyterian Church was organized in 1960, he and Nickie joined as charter members. He served as a deacon, elder, clerk of session, member of the Pastor-Parish Committee, choir, men's bible class, elder greeter, committee chairman and wherever he was needed at the time. He was also active in the church Boy Scout Troop #171 and served as a scout leader. He participated in and was supportive of many community causes, among these, Yokefellow, 5th Street, and Habitat for Humanity. He was one of the longest survivors of lung cancer and will be remembered for his positive spirit and sense of humor. He kept those around him upbeat and warmed our hearts with laughter "the Best Medicine". Bob was a loving son, a devoted husband, won-derful father and grand-father. He was loved and respected as an un-cle, cousin, son-in-law, brother-in-law and a faithful and caring friend to many. A memorial service to celebrate Mr. Crawford's life will be at Forest Park Presbyterian Chu-rch Monday, July 2, at 11 a.m. with Revs. Scott Jeffreys, Tom Corbell, and Dr. E. Thomas Miller officiating. The family will receive friends in the church parlor following the memorial service and other times at the home. Family burial in Oak-wood cemetery will pre-cede the memorial ser-vice. Mr. Crawford is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Nickie; son, Rob, and wife, Mary, granddaughters, Sarah and Katie, of Troutman; son, Dan and wife, Lisa; and granddaughters, Hannah and Rachel, of Greenwood, S.C.; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Fred Niblock Crawford, Jr. and Barbara Fox Crawford. Memorials may be made to Forest Park Presbyterian Church, Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, and the American Cancer Society. Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the Crawford family.