Submitted by: Dan Rich

James Robert Crawford

Sept. 7, 1912 - Jan. 26, 2001

South Bend Tribune 1/30/2001

James Robert Crawford, 88, passed away on Friday, Jan. 26th, in the home of his daughter, Connie Bergquist in Tallahassee, Fla.

The son of David Leigh and Jennie Belle Cooper Crawford, Mr. Crawford was born on Sept. 7, 1912, in Xenia, Ohio, where he spent his childhood. He graduated from Washington Court House High School and attended Ohio State University.

On Sept. 19, 1937, Mr. Crawford married Mary M. Fiedler, the daughter of William and Lena Futter Fiedler. They relocated to South Bend, Ind., in 1941, where Mr. Crawford was employed at Bendix Corporation in the accounting division for 36 years, until his retirement in 1977.

Mr. Crawford was active in the Masonic order and sang tenor until recently in the Shrine Club Choir. He was a volunteer for Meals On Wheels for over 20 years, and for the South Bend Public Library, delivering books for home-bound people. He was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church until moving to live with his daughter in Tallahassee in 1998.

Mr. Crawford's wife, Mary Fiedler Crawford, followed him in death by three days.

He is survived by four daughters and their husbands. Kay and Ben Locke of Gambier, Ohio, Sallie and Ralph Spears of Indianapolis, Ind., Connie and Gilbert Bergquist of Tallahassee, and Marcee and John Sarracino of Los Alamos, N.M. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; two nieces, Michella Stafford and Martha Crouse of Troy, Ohio; a nephew, James Lawrence Lane of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and many good friends.

Services for Mr. Crawford will be held jointly with his wife, Mary M. Fiedler Crawford, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, in the Welsheimer's Funeral Home, 521 North William Street, South Bend. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, in Welsheimer's, where a Masonic service will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Crawford may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32308.

A memorial service will also be held at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, on April 29th. (nf)