Donald "Don" J. Crawford of Ponca City, Okla., passed away Monday, December 27, 2021, at Alliance Health Center in Ponca City. He was 90.
Born to Jesse & Cassie (Bowker) Crawford in Phillipsburg, Kansas on
July 8, 1931. Don was fourth of five children. He went to school in
Phillipsburg, graduating with the class of 1949 at the age of 17. He
attended Fort Hays Kansas State Teachers College and then Arkansas City
Junior College graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Education. He
taught one year in a one room school house teaching grades 1-6 in Maple
City,Kansas. He moved to Ponca City in 1952. He went to work for Lucky's
TV for 8 1/2 years before opening his own television repair shop called
Don's TV in 1962. He was in business for 14 years before going to work
for Smith International in 1976 as a maintenance mechanic. He traveled
to Venezuela during his time with Smith's training people on machines.
He retired from Smith's in 1993.
May 6, 1951 he married Velma Spurgeon and they made their home in Ponca
City. On January 21, 1952 they welcomed a daughter Donna Jo making them a
family of three. Velma passed away from cancer in July 1990. On June 8,
1991 he married Vickie Bailey and they were married until her death in
November 2018.
Don enjoyed doing many things but his most favorite thing was flying his
Cessna 177 Cardinal airplane. He earned his pilots license in 1972. He
owned several airplanes and even built one with his grandson Kyle.
Survivors include his daughter Donna White, grandsons Kyle(Calvia) Albee
and Cameron(Misti) Albee all of Newkirk. Step daughter Kym Vap, step
sons Monty Eckler and Shane Bailey all of Ponca City. Step
granddaughters Amy Arbona, Sasha Steelemon, Lindsey Hobbs, LeighAnn
Giles and Monica Pratt all of Ponca City. Step grandsons Garrett Bailey
of Ponca City and Tanner Eckler of Owasso. 20 great grandchildren and 2
great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, his wives Velma and Vickie,
brothers Jesse and Harold and sisters Opal and Esther and step son in
law Tony Vap.
Graveside services were January 3, 2022, at Newkirk Cemetery. Arrangements are with Miller Stahl Funeral Home/Grace Memorial Chapel.