Melvin Earl “Pete” Crawford joined his wife Dorothy in heaven on October 13, 2023. He was born on August 10, 1939, in Louisa County, IA to Charles Eugene and Dorothy Esther (Myers) Crawford. He married Dorothy Jean Fickel on July 23, 1961, in Indianola, IA.
Survivors include his daughter Janet (Brent) Dunbar (Gatesville, TX), his son David (Julie) Crawford (Fort Worth, TX), six grandchildren; Kiki Crawford (Taylor Scartozzi), Sparky Crawford, Spencer Crawford, Jessie Dunbar, Mitchell Crawford, Wyatt Dunbar, and one great
grandson, Percy Crawford Scartozzi.
Survivors also include his sister Linda (Keith) Morgan (Cairo, MO), brother Gene (Karen) Crawford (Fairfield, IA), brother-in-law Bert Fairchild (Fairfield, IA), nieces and nephews; Doug (Peggy) Fairchild (Holland, MI), Stephen (Janet) Mullikin (Broken Arrow, OK),
Carole Mullikin (Fairfield, IA), Denise (Arnold) Weirup (Fairfield, IA), Diane (Larry) Keller (Fairfield, IA), Alan (Sheryl) Mullikin (LeGrand, IA), Michael (Marilyn) Morgan (Lee’s Summit, MO), Jena (Travis) Linkin (Mt. Union, IA), Phillip (Hillary) Fairchild (Fairfield, IA), Sean (Nikki) Crawford (Bondurant, IA), Jill (Jim) Silvers (Ollie, IA), and many other relatives.
He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Dorothy, his parents, Charles and Dorothy Crawford, and sisters; Marjory Mullikin, Charlene Fairchild, and brother-in-law Willis Mullikin.
He drove a school bus route while attending Fairfield High School until graduating in 1957. He earned an electrical engineering degree from Iowa State University in 1965, and a Master of Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1972.
After graduating from Iowa State, Melvin was employed by Westinghouse Electric Corp. in Buffalo, NY. His two children were born while in Buffalo, Janet (1967) and David (1969). In 1972 he moved the family to Houston, TX and began working for Brown & Root Inc. He
officially retired in 2001.
Melvin was an active member of the Klein (TX) Volunteer Fire Department for over 35 years. He was one of the few who drove the fire trucks on their calls.
Services for Melvin will be: Visitation on Friday, October 27th, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at Behner Funeral Home, Fairfield, IA. A celebration of his life on Saturday, October 28th at 10:00 am at Behner Funeral Home with Pastor Alan Mullikin officiating. Burial to follow at the Pleasant Plain Friends Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Klein Volunteer Fire Department (Houston, TX), c/o David Crawford, 6901 Baltusrol Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76132. Condolences may be sent to 6901 Baltusrol Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76132 or left on the Behner Funeral Home
website, behnerfh.com.
