Donald C. Crawford, Class of 1947

September 03, 2004
Santa Paula High School
By B. J. Harding, President, SPUHS Alumni Association Biography #243 (Have you submitted yours?)A third generation Santa Paulan, Don was the son of Clare, Class of 1918 and Dorothy Crawford, Clare being the son of Dr. John and Jennie Crawford of Santa Paula. Don was born in 1929 minutes before his twin sister, Dorothy, making him the older of the two, a fact he never let Dorothy forget. They also had a younger brother, Jon, Class of 1952.Don was raised in the Santa Paula schools, attending McKevett and Isbell grade schools, and entered SPUHS with the Class of 1947. The family were active members of the Santa Paula Methodist Church and the children had many positive experiences growing up in this environment.At SPUHS Don was a member of the Hi-Y Club and on the championship football team, playing center and linebacker under Coach “Dink” Walker. Some of his football team buddies were Dick Bryson, Louis Fregoso, Lloyd Stringer, Roy Moore and Dick Colborn.Following graduation, Don went to Ventura Junior College, graduating with an AA in Industrial Arts in 1949. While at VJC, he met his first love Peggy Drew. They were married in 1950 and blessed with two sons, Steven and Michael.Life was wonderful as the family enjoyed their annual vacations staying at the Rincon Beach, building sandcastles and forts and taking the boys camping. Don also loved bowling, however mechanics was his forte. As a child he repaired and built bicycles, and later progressed to cars. He built up cars from the frame and engine as well as restoring cars, which he drove, wrecked or sold, which led him into his business of the Ford tractor agency in Fillmore. He purchased this agency in 1963, and ran it until he turned it over to his son, Steve, in 1996.
In 1984 Peggy became ill, and Don took personal care of her during her two-year illness; then she passed away, thus ending a wonderful 36-year marriage.In 1987 Don was again blessed when he married the widow of his old friend and associate Jack Hannah, Jean Tucker Hannah. With this marriage, Don gained two daughters, Debbie and Leanne and their respective families. Don and Jeanette bowled and golfed together, and occasionally Jeanette managed to get him away for a vacation. Don thoroughly enjoyed their combined families. Being the workaholic he was, except when Jeanette could get him away on a cruise or other vacation he showed up for work every day until his last illness.Not much for clubs and organizations, Don did serve on the Goodenough Water District Board and the board for the Fillmore High School Future Farmers Association.Don passed from us in May 2004, and will be missed by all his friends and loved ones.



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