William Crawford

William "Bill" Crawford, 92, passed away on Thursday, May 15, 2014. Visitation will be on Thursday, May 22, 2014 from 6 - 8 pm at the Sunnyside Road Church of Christ in Decatur, IL. The funeral service will also be held at the Sunnyside Road Church of Christ on Friday, May 23, 2014 starting at 10 am. A graveside service will follow at Asbury Cemetery in Raymond, IL at 2:30 pm. Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home in Decatur, Il is handling the arrangements. Memorials can be given in Bill's name to Shults-Lewis Children's Home, Habitat for Humanity, DMH Hospice, or USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute. Each of these worthy organizations meant something to Bill. Bill was born on April 16, 1922 in Puryear, TN to William Frank and Ida (Canady) Crawford. He was preceded in death by half-brothers Lambert "Kemp" Kimbro, Dorris Crawford, William "Ralph" Crawford, Harold Crawford, half-sister Mamie Crawford, as well as a sister, Myrtle. Bill graduated from Puryear High School before being drafted into military service. He served in North Africa and Europe with the 7th Army Medical Depot Company during World War II. He served from November 1942 to December 1945. He later graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a bachelor degree in Education and the intention to be an agriculture teacher. With additional course work at various universities, including the University of Illinois, he went on to complete three graduate degrees. Bill's career spanned 40 years serving as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, and administrator in the Newton, Argenta and Decatur (Lakeview High School; Thomas Jefferson Middle School) school systems. After retiring as an educator, Bill spent many years volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. He also served the Sunnyside church as a Deacon for 15 years and as an Elder for 21. He married Harriet Carriker on June 15, 1957 in Raymond, IL. They were married for almost 57 years. Bill is survived by his wife Harriet, a son Mark (wife, Jennifer) Crawford of Nashville, TN; a daughter Melissa (husband, Tony) Jackson of Seffner, Florida; one grandson and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill will always be remembered for his love and service to others, his enthusiasm for learning, his sense of humor, as well as his "green thumb." "
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