Merle E. Crawford

Merle E. Crawford, 94, of Chippewa Township died September 8, 2021, in the Beaver Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, South Beaver Township.

Born July 12, 1927, in South Beaver Township to the late Charles & Elva (Neely) Crawford.  He graduated from Beaver Falls High School in 1945; served in the U.S. Army for 2 years during WWII in the Panama Canal Zone.  He was a charter member of the CUP Evangelical Presbyterian Church, where he was an Ordained Elder and Deacon.  He worked at the former Gross Furniture Store, worked for the  Ralph C. Reed, Inc. as heavy equipment operator, retired in 1989 from the U.S Postal Service as a Rural Carrier.  He along with his late wife Donna started the Merle E. Crawford Insurance Agency before selling the agency in 1991.  He was a member of the Grange at the local, state, and national levels, serving as the Master of the Chippewa Grange.  He was a member of many camping clubs more recently the Three Rivers Holiday Rambler Club. A member of the National Rural Carriers Association.  He also served on the Chippewa Township Planning Commission for many years.  

He is survived by his wife Laura Osman Crawford whom he married on August 22, 2010.  His children Gary James & Kathy Crawford, South Beaver Township; Douglas Merle Crawford and Patti, New Brighton; and Linda Leigh Crawford, Yukon, OK.  A stepson Christopher William Osman.  9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. A brother-in-law Merle Wagoner, and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ronnie & Bonnie Fields.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife Donna Jean Fields Crawford in 2005; a grandson Jacob Zagore; a brother and sister-in-law Wayne “Earl” & Belva Crawford, a sister Glenda Wagoner, and two infant brothers.

Friends will be received Friday 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Hill & Kunselman Funeral Home, www.hillandkunselman.com, 3801-4th Avenue, Beaver Falls, PA 15010.  A service will be held Saturday at 11:00 AM in the Cup Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 530 Blackhawk Rd, Beaver Falls, PA 15010 with Rev. Scott Graham and Rev. Dr. Robert Frazier officiating.

Members of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 862 will provide military honors on Friday at 4:15 PM at the funeral home.

Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery, Ohioville.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Merle E. Crawford, please visit our floral store.