Herbert Clinton Crawford

Herbert Clinton Crawford, Ottawa, was born August 10, 1923, near Ottawa, Kansas. His parents were Jackson H. and Jennie (Hume) Crawford. Herb lived most of his life in Ottawa until his death on Thursday, April 12, 2018, at the age of 94. Herb graduated from Ottawa High School with the class of 1941. He attended Kansas State University and the University of Kansas where he studied chemistry. Herb entered the United States Army during World War II, where he spent most of his service in the Army Medical Corp and was honorably discharged in 1946. He was united in marriage to Donna E. Meyer at Ottawa, Kansas. They were devotedly married until her death on February 2, 2017. Herb is survived by two daughters, Nancy Holzer and her husband, Eric, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Nila Wheeler, Osawatomie, Kansas. He is also survived by his grandson, Mark Wheeler and his wife Stacia, Topeka, Kansas and great granddaughter, Madison. Other survivors include numerous nieces and nephews, and Judy Collins, dedicated assistant, Gary Hughes, loyal friend and Allen Crawford, devoted nephew. Herb was preceded in death by his parents and six Crawford brothers, Edward, B.W., Woodrow, Jay, Mike, and Robert. Also preceding him were four sisters, Mary Wheeler, Margaret Curry, Nellie Howell, Cleda Hayden and a son-in-law, William Wheeler, Jr. Herb served as a railway mail clerk in the Rail Mail Service from 1949 to 1967. During off days, he was a union carpenter and eventually built his own home. After the U.S. Post Office withdrew the mail from the rail service, Herb worked at the Topeka Post Office. In 1978 he was promoted to the Industrial Engineering Unit at the Kansas City, Missouri, Post Office. In 1986 he was promoted to Manager, Industrial Engineering, Kansas City Division. He retired in 1990. Herb was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church of Ottawa, formerly serving on the board of trustees, as well as being a former Sunday school teacher. Herb was a past chairman of trustees of the Railway Mail Credit Union (First Credit Union), a past secretary/treasurer for the local NARFE, a past member of Toastmasters International, and a past member of Warren Black Post #60 of the American Legion. Herb loved to golf and was very inventive. He held patents, devised and wrote a computer efficiency-ratings program which was actually used on the job site, and briefly marketed his own carpentry tool. Just for fun, he developed a complicated board game. As a life-time Democrat, he enjoyed political discussions. He was an avid history buff, particularly concerning the Civil War in which his grandfather, Edward Hume, served as a Union solider. He enjoyed studying maps and reading books on railroading. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m., Monday April 16, 2018, at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa. Open in-state hours for friends to pay their respects will be 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday April 15, 2018, at Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, Ottawa. Memorial contributions may be made out to Trinity United Methodist Church or Jayhawker Days Booster Club sent c/o Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa, KS 66067.  Condolences to the family may be sent through www.lamb-roberts.com. . To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Herbert Clinton Crawford please visit our Sympathy Store.

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