Norm graduated in 1949 from Woodward High School in Toledo, OH.  He then attended Bowling Green State University on a basketball scholarship.  He interrupted his college career to serve in the Navy for four years aboard the USS Rushmore LSD during the Korean War.  Upon returning, he finished his business degree at the University of Toledo.

Norm met his future wife, Alice, while they were both students at Woodward High School in Toledo.  After they were married, the Crawford family lived in OH, IA and WI in support of Norm’s career before settling in Racine in 1970.  Norm was a dedicated employee of Case Corporation (formerly J.I. Case Company) for over 20 years in the Auditing and Data Processing departments before retiring in 1989.  He previously worked for Standard Oil, Allied Chemical, and 10 years at General Motors.

Norm enjoyed computers, working on his yard, boating, fishing, tying jigs, and his annual fishing trips to Canada.  He spent time traveling all over Europe and the US with Alice after retirement.  He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan and enjoyed watching his Super Bowl Champions.  Above all, Norm loved spending time with his family and will be dearly missed by all.

Norm is survived by his loving wife, Alice; adoring daughters, Lynn (Tim Willmes) Crawford of Cudahy, Carol (Milan Vukicevic) Crawford of Fox Point; grandchildren, Ava Alice and Peter Norman Crawford – Vukecevic of Fox Point; sisters, Jean Yingling of Toledo, OH, Maryann Hinger of Los Angeles, CA;  and other nieces, nephews, and relatives.

A memorial service with Full Military Honors will be held at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home, 4600 County Line Road, on Saturday, October 8, at 3pm, with Rev. J.D. Millar officiating.  Visitation will be from 1pm until the time of the service.  A private interment will take place at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the American Cancer Society or Wheaton Franciscan Hospice.

The family would like to express their thanks to Dr. Choi, Dr. Ulmer, their staff, and to the Wheaton Franciscan Hospice for their care.

Jack & Maryann Hinger Aug 20, 2005

Jean & Dick Yingling Oct. 18, 1997

Alice J. & Norman J. Crawford 50th Wedding Anniversary Dec.19, 2002

This note looked like it was important back then-probably isn’t now.  This is a life lesson for me.  Only a few things that are important today, will be important tomorrow.  Words to live by.

 Here’s anote from James Crawford’s Pastor stating he was an acceptable member of his Church.

Here’s another property tax reciept from April 8, 1897.  Those people back then had excellent penmanship.

This verifies that James Crawford was a memeber of the Patrons of Industry in North America.  This was probably important back in the day. 

I don’t really know what this is but it’s interesting.

12-23-1952 to 12-24-2010

CRAWFORD Joan K. 12/23/1952 – 12/24/2010 Joan K. Crawford, 58, of Toledo, passed away Friday evening December 24, 2010, following a courageous battle with breast cancer. Joan was a retired United States Air Force Master Sergeant, and worked for the Wood County Adult Probation Program for the past 21 years. Those left to cherish her memory are her best friend and companion, Jennifer Jeffers; sisters, Sue (Willard) Kapes and Beth (Chuck) Miller; brother, Rick Crawford; 11 nieces and nephews and their children, and many very special friends. Friends may call at Walter Funeral Home, 4653 Glendale Ave. on Tuesday, December 28th from 2 until 8 p.m. A funeral ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. Military honors will be rendered at Forest Hill Cemetery, Napolean, Ohio Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to Susan G. Komen for the Cure , Breast Cancer Foundation or to the Toledo Humane Society.

Norman’s best guess is that this photo of the car was taken around 1913-1914.  There is some writing on the back of the photo, that appears to be Linnie Crawford (patial name hard to make out), James Crawford, Ray Crawford, Gale Crawford and Charles Crawford.

The Crawford Homes

The Crawford Farm had two homes.  The Sand Ridge Rd home was the original Crawford homestead .  My mother’s brother James and his wife mary lived in the other home.  Later in life Charlie & Linnie traded homes with James and Mary.

The photo above is of Charlie & Linnie’s last home.  I’ve also included the writing on the back.   This home is still there & looks like this.  The photo below was taken on October 4, 2008

Check out the photo below.  I’ve also included the writing on the back.

The photo above is the old Crawford Homestead on Sand Ridge Rd. 

Norman also sent me a family history diagram.  I’ll try to get that up in the next few weeks.

This always used to sit by the kitchen door.  I remember it more like this:

It was always filled with cookies-always the same kind of cookies.  Those cookies were really good.  We’re trying to duplicate them here.  Barb’s almost got it down.

FYI, it’s a Lisk roaster with a patent date of 1911.  (It says so on the lid)  I don’t know when Charlie & Linnie bought it but my guess is it’s 80 or 90 years old.  It still works good.  It’s the bomb for  cooking a Thanksgiving turkey. 

This photo is from March 15, 1958.  It was taken on Charlie’s birthday.   

Here’s how I remember my grandfather Charlie, sitting in his chair & smoking his pipe.  I don’t know the year this picture was taken but it was in bad shape.   

This one is Orville & Marti taken Feb 1983.

This one is Marti Orville’s wife and Millie Bernard’s wife.  This awas taken Feb 1983.

On this one from left to right we have Sue (Bernard Crawford’s daughter), Jeane (Gale Crawford’s daughter) and Beth (Bernard Crawford’s youngest daughter).  They are all cousins.  This was taken Feb 1983.

Here are the tax rates for some townships in Henry County Ohio in 1898.

Here’s an receipt for building products that were sold to James Crawford in1909.  Notice the phone number.