Rev. Dr. David Lewis Crawford

     The Rev. Dr. David L. Crawford, aged 89, of Grand Rapids, died on Saturday, April 15 assured of 'life after life.'  He was followed closely to Heaven by his wife of 66 years Kathryn (DeVinney) Crawford, who passed away on Monday, April 17.  Surviving are three sons, David Griffin (Jennifer), Mark Alan (Sheila), and Jonathan Scott (Peggy). Also surviving are sisters Margaret McClish and Louise Heller, and brother Max Crawford. 

   Dr. Crawford was retired from more than forty years of service in the ministry of the United Methodist Church.  Together with his partner in ministry, Kathy, appointments included Galien-Dayton; Comstock; Central Park in Buffalo, New York; Cadillac First; West Michigan Conference Executive; Senior Pastor at Lansing Christ; Albion District Superintendent; Senior Pastor at Traverse City Central; and Hartford.  Retirement years for Dave and Kathy were spent at a lake house near Traverse City and a beachfront condo in Mexico Beach, Florida.  Grandchildren were frequent visitors: Tara (Jared) Flooding, Megan (Nicole Furlan), Amy, Kelsie (Hunter) Lewis, Ciera, Kristen and Michael.  In recent years the couple joined friends and lived at Clark Retirement Community in Grand Rapids.

   Dr. Crawford was a graduate of Western Michigan University, completed theological training at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, and was the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Albion College.  He was an active volunteer and a member of Rotary and Golden K Kiwanis.  A favorite volunteer activity was twenty-two years as a Trustee of United Methodist Church related Adrian College.  Travel was another passion, and Dr. Crawford visited all 50 U.S. states and 75 countries around the world for personal and missional purposes.  Dr. Crawford was able to mix his passion for church and travel as he was elected by his peers to the highest legislative bodies of the denomination in both the USA and around the world.

   A joint memorial celebration for Rev. Dr. David L. Crawford and his wife Kathryn Crawford is scheduled on May 6 at 1:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids. The memorial service will be followed by a time of fellowship with the family.      

   In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial gifts to the Dr. David and Kathryn Crawford Scholarship Fund at Adrian College or the United Methodist Committee on Overseas Relief.  

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