Gwendolyn B. "Gwen" CRAWFORD

Enid News and Eagle Enid, Garfield Co., OK

07-27-2012

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Gwendolyn "Gwen" B. Crawford, 97, died July 25, 2012 in Oklahoma City. She was born December 18, 1914 in Enid to Guy and Lela (Nelson) Souther and attended Enid schools, graduating from Enid High School in 1932. She then attended Phillips University in Enid and graduated with a degree in science. Gwen got her first teaching job in Woodward where she started the first Girl Scout camp in that area. It is also where she met her future husband, Ivan Crawford. They married December 25, 1939 in Enid and had three children, Deanna, Ronald (Ron) and William (Bill).

In 1954, they purchased Souther Florist from her parents and ran the business together until Ivan's death in 1963. Gwen continued running the business and took up flying in 1967, becoming a "flying farmer" and "99er" which included flying in four "powder puff derby" cross country air races. She also began traveling extensively, covering most of the globe, usually traveling with the FTD organization. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Beta Child Study Club, Order of the Eastern Star, Daughters of the American Revolution as well as many other organizations. Gwen spent 64 summers at her vacation home on Lake Vallecito, outside Durango, CO with family and friends. Nearing the age of 90, she moved to St. Ann's Retirement Center in Oklahoma City and began a new life developing a host of new friends. She continued to be active in her local church and as always, playing bridge, train, canasta and skip-bo on a daily basis.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Ron; and son-in-law, Sean Mooney. Gwen is survived by daughter, Deanna Mooney and son, Bill Crawford; grandchildren, Casey Crawford; Terri Crawford; Kelly French; Brad Crawford; Sheelagh Fromer; Kevin Mooney; Siobhan Stevens; great-grandchildren, Adrianne; Ariel; Michael; Sean; Aisling; Derrek; Sonia; Sophia and Ruby as well as many nieces, nephews and a host of friends from San Francisco, Ireland, Colorado, Enid, Oklahoma City and St. Ann's. A memorial service will be 2:00pm Saturday, July 28, 2012 in the Chapel of St. Ann's Retirement Center, 7501 W. Britton Rd., OKC with a reception to follow in the Grand Theater.

Her graveside service will be 2:00pm Monday, July 30, 2012 in the Chapel of Enid Cemetery followed by a celebration of Gwen's life at Willow Lake, 3602 Lakeshore Drive, Enid. Henninger-Hinson Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements