WILLIAM ROLAND CRAWFORD

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WILLIAM ROLAND CRAWFORD It is with great sadness that the family of Roly Crawford, aged 78, announces his passing on Friday, December 23, 2005 at the LaVerendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances, ON. Roly was born on July 9, 1927 in Purdysburn, Northern Ireland to David and Elizabeth Crawford. He came to Canada in 1948 and settled in Toronto working as a bricklayer. During this time he met Elizabeth (Betty) Gillanders and they were married in 1952. Together they moved to St. Catherines, ON were Roly started working for Westrock as a construction supplies salesman; he worked his way through the company becoming Vice President of Sales which took the family to Calgary. While in Calgary Roly joined Husky Oil, this took the family to Winnipeg, Regina and finally Thunder Bay. Roly and Betty chose Fort Frances for their retirement home. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion spending time with the Colour Party and serving as Past President. He was an extremely outgoing man; he enjoyed singing, dancing and telling jokes. He was a toastmaster and all around entertainer. He was predeceased by his parents, wife Betty in 2002 and nine brothers and sisters. Roly leaves behind his son David Crawford of Calgary, AB; daughter Denise and husband Randy Wepruk of Red Lake, ON; grandchildren, Danny and Erin Wepruk; his dear friend and companion Willa Knotts as well as extended family too numerous to mention. A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 30 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Anglican Church in Fort Frances, ON with Fr. Wayne McIntosh officiating. Cremation has taken place and a private interment will be held at the LaVerendrye Columbarium at the Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances, ON. The family gratefully requests that in memoriams be directed to St. John's Anglican Church Memorial Fund.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 29, 2005