June 13, 1928 – Feb. 3, 2014

Joseph A. Crawford, 85, passed away peacefully at his home in Arnold, Calif., on Feb. 3 following an extended illness. Joe is survived by his wife of 24 years, Marcy Crawford. Joe was a longtime resident of La Cañada Flintridge.

Joe was born in Delavan, Ill. on June 13, 1928 to Marie, a homemaker, and Lawrence, a high school teacher. He graduated from Libertyville High School in Illinois and attended the University of Illinois before heading west in 1949. On the trip to California he met his future wife, Marian, on the train. He settled in the San Francisco Bay area working for an uncle and attending UC Berkeley before entering the commercial insurance business. He and Marian wed in 1949, settled in San Carlos and had two sons, Joseph and Timothy. The family moved to La Cañada Flintridge in 1968.

In addition to his career, for many years Joe was a volunteer diving coach when his athletic sons took up the sport. He was active in the Paradise Valley Homeowners’ Association and was an avid golfer and bowler in neighborhood leagues, and a member of the Glendale Elks Lodge later in life.  He and Marian liked to entertain and many happy parties were held at their Ocean View Boulevard home. In 1987 Marian passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Joe was also preceded in death by his parents and his sister Linda Dorr.

Joe was fortunate to find a second chance at love when he married long time friend Marcy Gallagher on Sept. 23, 1989 in Glendale. He retired as a vice president from Oland International, a commercial insurance brokerage, in 1995 after 45 years in the insurance business.

In the early 1990s, Joe and Marcy built a second home in Arnold, a small community on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada. After splitting their time for many years between their Tujunga condo and their mountain retreat, they retired there full time in 2007. In Arnold, Joe was active in the Moose Lodge, the SIRS (Sons in Retirement) and volunteered for many years as a docent at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

Joe is survived by his wife Marcy, his sons Joe and Tim (Rosel), his granddaughters Alex and Max Crawford, all of La Crescenta, and his sister Martha Owens (Ron) of Arkansas. Joe is also survived by his stepchildren Carol Kramer (Bob), Jim Gallagher (Paula), and Dan Gallagher (Dawn),  and his step-grandchildren Donny (Theresa), Jason, Sara, Tanya and Tanner Gallagher, Christopher Kramer, and step-great grandchildren Lucas and Muri Gallagher, as well as extended family and many friends.

A celebration of life will be held
in Arnold.