Dr. Arthur M. Crawford

Dr. Arthur M. Crawford, 93, of 882 Porter St., Meadville, died Tuesday, January 24, 2006 at Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community, Meadville.

He was born in Washington, DC February 18, 1912, a son of the late Benjamin F. and Achsah M. Mead Crawford.  He married Catherine C. Johnson September 1, 1939 and she preceded him in death March 8, 2001.

He was a 1930 graduate of Dormont High School, Pittsburgh.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in Religion From Allegheny College in 1934, a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY in 1937, and a Masters of Arts in Education from Columbia University in 1941.  He began his career in United Methodist Ministry as assistant minister at Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, Brooklyn, NY from 1937 to 1939.  He subsequently served as Pastor at West Springfield United Methodist Church from 1939 to 1942, Asbury United Methodist Church, Erie from 1942 to 1947, First United Methodist Church, Dunkirk, NY from 1947 to 1955, and Grace United Methodist Church, Oil City from 1955 to 1962.  He then served as Superintendent of the Grove City United Methodist District from 1962 to 1965.  He became Senior Pastor of Stone United Methodist Church, Meadville in 1965 and served until 1974 at which time he was appointed executive director of the United Methodist Home and Hospital (now Wesbury) and served there until his retirement in 1977.  In retirement, he served as minister of visitation at Stone United Methodist Church from 1977 to 1981 and became Pastor Emeritus there in 2001.  He served as a delegate to the United Methodist General Conference in 1964, 1968, and 1970.

Actively involved in the community, Dr. Crawford was a member of the Allegheny College Board of Trustees from 1964 to 1980 and was named trustee emeritus in 1980.  He was a member of the Meadville Rotary Club, John Brown Heritage Association and former vice president, United Way of Western Crawford County and former vice president of planning, Dr. Martin Luther King Scholarship Fund, Crawford County Historical Society, Meadville Round Table, Dunkirk-Irondequoit Masonic Lodge 301, Dunkirk, NY, Phi Beta Kappa honorary fraternity, Allegheny College, Delta Tau Delta social fraternity, Allegheny College, 1988 Meadville Bicentennial religious emphasis committee chairman, and was a former member of the Meadville Medical Center board of corporators.

Dr. Crawford was honored at Allegheny College with a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1957, recipient of the Governor Raymond P. Shafer Award for distinguished community service in 1993, Rainbow Chapter 111, Order of Eastern Star Award in 1983, United Way Community Service Award in 1991, and Meadville Ministerial Association Spirit of Ecumenism Award in 2002.  Dr. Crawford and his late wife Catherine were honored by Stone United Methodist Church in 2003 with the special permanent illumination of the church’s stained glass education window.

Survivors include 3 daughters, Jean Luker and her husband Ralph E. of Atlanta, GA; Evelyn M. Crawford of Tallmadge, OH; and Mary Ann Vrabel and her husband Donald A. of Meadville; a sister, Ruth Amrein of Stafford Springs, CT; 2 granddaughters, Anne C. Luker of Atlanta, GA and Amanda E. Luker of Minneapolis, MN; and nieces and nephews.  In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a sister, Betty Patterson.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville and Friday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Stone United Methodist Church 956 S. Main St., Meadville.

A funeral service will be Friday at 2:00 p.m. at Stone United Methodist Church with the Revs. William L. Brown and Aaron Kerr, Pastors, officiating.

Interment will be in Greendale Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial donations may be made to Stone United Methodist Church, 956 S. Main St., Meadville, PA 16335, Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community, 31 N. Park Ave., Meadville, PA 16335, or the Arthur M. Crawford Scholarship Fund, Office of Development, Allegheny College, 520 N. Main St., Meadville, PA 16335.