The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Ruth W. Crawley, 90, of Covington, La., formally of Orange, passed away May 15, at her residence. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at Claybar Funeral Home Chapel in Orange. Officiating will be the Rev. Mike Umbenhaur, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Orange. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens near Bridge City.

Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. Sunday prior to the service on Sunday.

Ruth was born Oct. 9, 1922 in Dickensonville, Va. She was the youngest of two daughters born to Arthur Andrew Williams and Etta Dickenson Williams. Her early life was spent in Virginia. She graduated from Temple Hill High School, in Castlewood, Va., in 1939. Continuing her education, Ruth attended Radford University in Radford, Va. In 1943, she earned a BS degree in science and education.

Following WWII, she met the man who would become her life partner, Major John Emmett Crawley, Jr. John and Ruth were married Dec. 27, 1946, in the Sulphur Springs Methodist Church near Dickensonville, Va. They settled in Charleston, WV., where John began his job as a Chemical Engineer for E. I. DuPont de Nemours.

With a shortage of teachers following WWII, Ruth immediately got a job at Stonewall Jackson High School in Charleston, WV. She taught general science and biology. While in Charleston, three sons were born to Ruth and John; their twins, Robert Arthur Crawley and Williams Edward Crawley, were born in Nov. of 1950. A little over a year later, in Dec. of 1951, their third son, Donald Eugene Crawley was born.

In November of 1964, John’s career with DuPont moved the family to Orange. Ruth became involved with her church and community, serving many organizations and holding many offices. She became a Deacon and Elder at First Presbyterian Church, belonged to the William Diamond Chapter of DAR, AAUW, Friends of the Orange Public Library, Leaf and Petal Garden Club, Antique Study Group, Red Hat Society and several bridge clubs. In 1980, she joined the staff of the Stark Foundation as a docent at the W.H. Stark House. She was a docent for 20 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John E. Crawley, Jr.; and sister, Frances Williams Banner.

Ruth is survived by her son, Robert A. Crawley and wife, Barbara of Austin, William E. Crawley and wife, Kathy of Orange and Donald E. Crawley and wife, Elizabeth of Bush, La.

Ruth is also survived by her grandchildren, Sharon E. Crawley of Costa Mesa, Ca, Stephen L. Crawley of Carbondale, Il; and step-grandchildren, Vance Long of New York, NY, and Scott Long and wife, Christine of Austin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 902 Green Avenue, Orange, Texas 77630 or your favorite charity in her name.