Benjamin CRAWFORD: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA) - Sunday, July 14, 2013

Deceased Name: Benjamin CRAWFORD

 CRAWFORD, Benjamin Crawford, Benjamin Lee, age 68 of Vestavia Hills, Alabama passed away Thursday afternoon, July 11, 2013, at his home in Vestavia Hills after a valiant 3 year battle with cancer. His wife, Charlotte, was by his side. Ben was born December 31, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia to John J. and Florence Eckles Crawford. In addition to his parents, Ben was preceded in death by his brothers John and Jim Crawford. Survivors include Ben's wife of 48 years, Charlotte Ransom Crawford, daughters Debbie Veteto, Julie Archibald, and son-in-law James F. Archibald, III and his beloved grandsons, Austin and Grant Veteto and Tommy and Ben Archibald. He graduated from Grady High School in 1962, a three-sport athlete, then graduated from the University of Georgia in 1966 with a degree in Business Administration and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He began his career in 1966 with the Linde Division of Union Carbide and later Praxair Corporation which took he and his family to Atlanta, Charlotte, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Birmingham, Newtown, Connecticut and Houston. He enjoyed a successful business career excelling to the executive level and retiring to Birmingham after 42 years. He was a natural athlete who excelled in many sports. His hole-in-one at Sawgrass Country Club in a Member-Guest tournament won him a 325I BMW and an all expense paid trip to Pebble Beach, CA. This gave him an extreme advantage playing golf with his buddies on Saturday mornings. Another passion for Ben was horseback riding with his girls, but his greatest passion was fishing on Lake Powell in Panama City beach. Ben and Charlotte were active members of Shades Valley Presbyterian Church, Vestavia Hills Country Club and Sharks Tooth Golf Club in Panama City Beach, Fl. A truly devoted fan of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Braves, he will be forever missed. The memorial service will be at Shades Valley Presbyterian Church at 3:00 on Tuesday, July 16th with visitation beginning at 2:00. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made in memory of Ben Crawford to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or Shades Valley Presbyterian Church, 2305 Montevallo Road, Birmingham, Al 35223. Online condolences may be made at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com