Richard Crawford

Richard Eugene Crawford was born September 5, 1948, to Betty and Alton Tommy Crawford in Hammond, Indiana. He left this earth on Monday, September 15, 2025, at his home, surrounded by his loving wife and family.

Richard lived in Joliet, Illinois, and worked at Caterpillar after High School. Enlisted in the Navy in 1968, completed boot camp at Great Lakes, then Engineman “A” school. Was sent to Coronado, CA, for survival training and weapons training at Camp Pendleton. Entered Vietnam on 18 June 1969. He arrived in Cam Ranh Bay in June of 1969. Not having a placement, he was sent TAD to the radio net Sepia at Vung Tau. Being an engineman and not a radio operator, he was sent TAD to Saigon, where he served as a bodyguard to ADM Zumwalt for a term of 3 months. Richard was then transferred to Cat Lo to serve aboard PCFs; the base was then moved to Sa Dec. He patrolled from the delta to the Cambodia border. He spent time patrolling the canal that was the border with Cambodia, just before the push into Cambodia. They went into Cambodia with force, traveling up the Mekong River to just short of Phnom Penh. He finished his tour of duty aboard PFCs and transferred back stateside in 17 June 1970.

Richard married Barbara Hoffmann on June 23, 1970, who he would spend the rest of his life with. They traveled to Boston, where the USS Davis DD937 was in dry dock. He spent the rest of his enlistment on the USS Davis and was discharged on July 7,1972 as EN2.

Together, they raised 11 children: Harold (Mary) Crawford of Old Monroe, MO. Kimberly (Randy) Harvel of Lonoke, AR. Angela (Jeffrey)Thomas of Paris,TN. Valerie (Daniel) Knight of LaFarge,Wi. Richard Crawford Jr, Victoria Crawford, Leticia Crawford all of Columbia, TN and Erica (Quivarus)Armstrong and Steven Crawford of Etheridge, Tn. They have 21 grandchildren, 28 great grand children and 2 great great grandchildren. They started KFA in Columbia in December 1998, until 2020. They also started Kids Day in the Park and provided for Maury Regional Hospital Vanderbilt pediatric infectious disease clinic.

Richard also worked at Saturn in Columbia from 1990 till he retired in 2008. He worked in body systems. They were foster parents to over 300 children.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Alton T and Betty Crawford, Brother Tommy Crawford. Sons Shaffen John and Robert Edward, and grandson Isiah Crawford.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Williams Funeral Home in Columbia, Tennessee. A service will be held on Monday, September 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Columbia, Tennessee. 

American Legion Post 19 will be rendering Military Honors. 

Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences can be given to the family at Williamsfh.com.