Ret. Lt. Col. Jack G. Crawford Sr.'s Obituary
Ret. Lt. Col. Jack G. Crawford, Sr. left this world and joined the love of his life Georgia Fay Crawford February 8, 2026. Jack was born August 3rd, 1930, in Shreveport, Louisiana to Garrett Glen Crawford and Annie Turner Crawford. He was preceded in death by his wife Georgia Fay Burton Crawford, parents Garrett Crawford and Annie and stepfather, T.H. Tucker, brother Jerry Crawford, sister and brother-in-law Barbara and James Rhodes and his son-in-law Hardy Hoofman. He is survived by his daughter Debra Crawford Hoofman, son Jack and Connie Crawford, grandsons Josh and Andrea Kelley, Jeremy and Michelle Kelley, Justin Kelley (Ashley) and Cole Crawford along with great grandchildren Jayden, Hunter, Jase, Jett and Madyson and his four-legged babies Ruby, Rain and Micah. Jack graduated from Henderson High School a year early and attended University of Houston for a year before being drafted into the Army March 1951. Jack’s military career spanned 20 years. One of his most memorable events included him graduating from OCS (Officer Candidate School) at Fort Riley, Kansas. The story goes “I graduated from Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Riley, Kansas. Captain Audie Murphy was our graduation speaker and preceded the Commanding General down the aisle to the stage. My seat was two seats from the aisle, and I got a very close look at our Nation’s most decorated soldier. Additionally, I was the winner of the “Military Stakes” award for my graduating class of 121 candidates and was the first graduate to cross the stage and receive the award. The Commanding General presented the award to me, but before he could do so, Captain Audie Murphy stepped in front of the General, shook my hand, and congratulated me on winning the most coveted award of every graduating class. That event will be welded into my mind until my dying day. I still have that engraved Sterling Silver Goblet…Jack”. Jack and Georgia met in 1950, and he courted Georgia for 5 years until they married June 12, 1954. His first assignment overseas with his bride was Germany from July 1954 to March 1957. It was during the period that he attended the Commissary Officers’ School at Lenggries, Germany in August 1954. Subsequently, he was assigned as Commissary officer with the U.S. Army Garrison at Fulda, West Germany. After his and Georgia’s return to the United States, he was commissary officer at Fort Lawton, Seattle, Washington. This is also where the first of their two children were born, Debra Crawford Hoofman. It was from school to school as Jack and Georgia crossed the continent. They went to Fort Holabird, MD where he attended U.S. Army Intelligence School. There he trained as an Area Analysis Officer, completing his work in December 1961. He returned to Germany to in February 1962 and was assigned as chief, Security Division of the 511th Military Intelligence Company, 66th Intelligence Group at Nuremberg until December 1964. It was during this assignment that the second of their two children was born Jack G. Crawford, Jr. He was stationed at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. from which he departed for his first tour in Vietnam August 28, 1965, through August 16, 1966. He had a second tour in Vietnam October 20th, 1969, through September 4th, 1970, before he retired in 1971. In his 20 year military career he was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak-Leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation. During his time in the service, he and Georgia traveled the world before settling in Longview, Texas. He owned a business with his brother Jerry Crawford, Longview Mobile Homes and then worked for Standard Tool. Later he worked for the United States Post Office where he retired in 1991. Jack and Georgia were long time members of Winterfield Methodist Church and were active members of the community. They were an integral part of the Alzheimer’s organization in Longview, Texas. Jack was a member of the Retired Officer’s Association in Longview as well as a 20 year plus member of AMBUCS where he won several awards for the AMBUCS newsletter. The Crawford family foundation is based on the love he had for Georgia, his family, and the Lord. They were always a unit and there was never one without the other. Georgia a.k.a. Grandma passed March 8, 2024. Grandpa always said he never understood why the Lord did not take him at the same time, but he would ask the Lord when he got there. He had several names for Georgia Fay, none of which was her name but instead “Doll, Sweetheart and Kiddo”. We know as his family, the first thing he said is” Lord, what took you so long” and finally, “Doll I’m Home.” We would like to thank Heart to Heart Hospice and Whispering Pines Lodge nursing home for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Alzheimer’s charity of your choice.
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