Ronald Whitney Crawford Sr.

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ronald Whitney Crawford, Sr., who passed away on Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Alamos, New Mexico at the age of 83.

Ronald was born on June 16, 1941, in Hartford, Connecticut to Dorothy Evelyn (Linden) Crawford and Whitney Edgar Crawford. He grew up in Connecticut and was a loyal member of the Boy Scouts of America who earned his place as an Eagle Scout at an early age. He attended Middletown High School before marrying Diane Woods in 1958, and they had four children during their ten years together.

For decades, Ronald crisscrossed the United States as a truck driver and member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, sending myriad postcards home to his family from California, Florida, Arizona, Montana and other places across the country.

At his home in Upstate New York, Ronald could often be found watching his beloved New York Yankees baseball and Giants football teams, or spending time outdoors walking with his dogs Speedo and Skinny Bones along the trees of his property. His summers were spent bringing joy to children at local parks by selling treats from his Gemini Cricket Ice Cream truck. During his later years in New Mexico, he enjoyed watching hoop dance performers.

Ronald was known for always ending phone calls and letters with the words “Keep up the good works,” encouraging his family to continue following their dreams and excelling in school or their careers. 

He was always quick to give a lecture on why ketchup never belonged on a hot dog.

“You wouldn’t put ketchup on a sausage, would you?” he would ask in response to anyone who said it was their personal preference.

Toward the end of his life, Ronald was cared for by his daughter Dianne Crawford in Connecticut before moving to New Mexico to spend his final years in the care of his younger daughter Lorraine Gray and her children.

Ronald Whitney Crawford Sr. is survived by his ex-wife Diane Woods; his children Dianne Crawford and her partner Al Perkins, Lorraine Gray, Ronald Whitney Crawford Jr. and his wife Marie Decato Crawford, and William Crawford and his wife Nicki Crawford; his grandchildren Rich Annino and his partner Stef Roth, Tina Andrews and her fiancé Zack Younger, Lauren Hefti-Mapp and her husband Peter Hefti, Nicole Adams and her husband Lenny Adams, Daniel Mapp, Justin Brown and his wife Heather Brown, Kanewakeron Thomas Gray, Jillian Crawford, Skanahwati Lloyd Gray, Konwaniahesen Lavina Gray, Billy Crawford, and Shonkwaiataroroks Mitchell Gray; and his great grandchildren Collin Tirrell, Zekeiel Younger, Brooke Younger, Nora Adams, and Troy Adams.

Ronald is also survived by his siblings Gary Crawford and his wife Carol Crawford, Donna Crawford, Karen Vodola and her husband Steve Vodola, and Tammy Crawford. He also leaves behind his nieces and nephews Gary Crawford Jr., Matt Vodola, Jay Vodola, Amanda Vodola, Vanessa Hall, Jordan Hyman, and Danielle Hyman; and great nieces and nephews Gary Crawford III, Brent Crawford, Jake Crawford, Tiaza Hall, Jonasia Outland, Ty’Jaya Outland, Anthony Collymore, Jackson Vodola, Austin Vodola, Emma Vodola, and Owen Vodola.

He is predeceased by his parents, Dorothy Evelyn (Linden) Crawford and Whitney Edgar Crawford; his grandparents Harriet (Robinson) Linden and Truman William Linden Sr, and Mabel (Clarke) Crawford and Mildmay Ozro Crawford.

Ronald Whitney Crawford Sr. will be deeply missed by his loved ones.

A private goodbye ceremony will be held virtually for immediate family on Feb. 11, 2025, and details regarding in-person memorial services in New Mexico and Connecticut will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Nature Conservancy in Ronald Whitney Crawford, Sr.'s memory to help preserve wildlife in his beloved state of New York and beyond.