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Dorothy Rhea Crawford

Feb. 20, 1926 | Feb. 23, 2018
| Feb. 20, 1926 | Feb. 23, 2018
Dorothy Gilland Crawford, 92, of Smithland died at Livingston Hospital and Healthcare, Salem, on Friday, February 23, 2018, at 4:15 P.M. She was born in Crittenden County to George Russell and Rena (Croft) Gilland on February 20, 1926. At the age of 13 she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and became a member of New Union General Baptist (“Ditney”) Church where she was the oldest member. During World War II she worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” on the P47 plane in the defense plants of Evansville. She felt pride in her work there because, according to her, “I was helping” in efforts to defend freedom. She occasionally shared with her daughters, and others as well, stories of the World War II era and especially the story of the celebrations in downtown Evansville upon Japan’s surrender. After the war she married the love of her life James Hetherington Crawford who had returned from three years of military duty in Italy and North Africa. Their marriage of 45 years ended with his death on February 16, 1991. A 25-year retiree of Potter and Brumfield/Siemens of Marion, Mrs. Crawford enjoyed gardening, cooking for her family, sewing, reading her Bible, and attending her church. A special pride of hers was the college educations of her daughters given the fact she had not had the opportunity to realize her own educational dreams. Surviving are daughters Doris Cothron (Tom) of Smithland and Charlotte Holloman (Bob) of Marion; granddaughter Corye LaShea Holloman Vinson (Tee Tommy) of Ledbetter; great grandson Luke Vinson of Ledbetter; sisters-in-law Wilma Gilland of Salem and Linda Gilland of Marion, as well as many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her siblings Corene Grimmett, J. D. Gilland, Pauline Damron, Willie Paul Gilland, Rowena McKendree, Roberta May, Wanda Jewell Janes, Martha Sue Hensley, as well as one niece and four nephews. Memorial services will be held in the chapel of Boyd Funeral Directors of Salem on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, at 2 P.M. with the reverend Kenneth Watson officiating. Interment will follow immediately in Salem Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, February 26, 2018, in the Boyd Funeral Directors Chapel in Salem. Pallbearers, active and honorary, are Ronnie Wright, Jerry Wright, Wesley Gilland, Ricky Gilland, Tee Tommy Vinson, Luke Vinson, Paul Crawford, and Harold Harris. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the New Union General Baptist Building Fund c/o Hazel Croft, 607 Hook Drive, Salem, Kentucky 42078.

Boyd Funeral Directors & Cremation Services
212 East Main Street,
Salem, KY 42078
Email : andy@boydfuneraldirectors.com Phone : (270) 988-3131