John Ansley Crawford

It is with heavy hearts that our family announces the passing of John Ansley Crawford, a resident of Derby, Kansas, on June 5, 2025 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was born to the late Otis and Rachel Crawford in Bacova, Virginia on May 5, 1935. After attending Towson High School in Maryland, John enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1954. He proudly served for 20 years where he was awarded numerous decorations, medals, and awards. After his retirement from active duty in military service, John became a licensed electrician and electrical contractor where he worked at numerous military bases throughout the United States supervising airport runway lighting systems.

Throughout his life, John enjoyed boating and traveling with his family. He was a passionate craftsman who could often be found in his workshop working on projects and gifts for his children and grandchildren. He had an extensive tool collection and could repair cars, boats, and of course, was also quite the handy man around the house! Later in life, John enjoyed the simpler things of talking about past life experiences, eating a bowl of chocolate ice cream, and watching westerns and college sports!

John was a member of the Woodlawn Methodist Church and enjoyed the fellowship and Bible study with his Sunday school class.

John loved his family and will be dearly missed. He is survived by his three daughters, Diann Yvonne Carithers (Gregory), Lynnda Lee Rooney (James), and Karen Ruth Smith (Bryan). He will be remembered by his six grandchildren; Jennifer, Stephen, Clayton, Meghan, Keely, and Brandi and his four great-grandchildren Branch, Shepherd, Lowen, and Hughes. John is also survived by one sister Sarah Osborne.

John was preceded in death by his devoted and loving wife of 67 years, Shirley Grace Crawford, and his sisters, Georgia and Ruth.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery Pavilion in Winfield, Kansas at 1:00 PM on Monday, June 9, 2025. Friends are invited to join the family and Full Military Honors will be given by the United States Air Force following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Rivercross Hospice, 611 E. William St., Wichita, Kansas 67202.