Perry Franklin Crawford

Perry Franklin Crawford, 87, of Fayetteville passed away Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, in Fayetteville, Ark., surrounded by his family. He was born on a farm on Oct. 19, 1925, in Drumright, Okla., to Ella and Claude Crawford and he was one of seven children. After his father's death, resulting from an auto accident in 1934, his family moved to Springfield, Mo., where he graduated from Springfield High School. He then left home and moved to Oklahoma City, Okla., to work his way through school and marry Vernal Wilmoth in 1944. WWII intervened and he joined the Army Air Corp until the end of the war; he returned to college to pursue his lifelong desire to become a physician. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, June 8, 1953. In 1953 and 1954, he did his internship at Rush Presbyterian, St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, Ill. From 1954 to 1960, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a medical officer, having his specialty education in anesthesiology. Prior to moving to Tulsa, Okla., he became certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology in 1960. He practiced medicine in Tulsa at St John's Medical Center until 1978. He moved to Fayetteville, Ark., and practiced medicine at Washington Regional Medical Center until retiring in 1996. He had a lifelong commitment to Jesus Christ and was an active member at Tulsa Bible Church and University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ark. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Vernal; four brothers; and two sisters. He is survived by his children, Susan O'Brien and husband, Pat, of Fayetteville, Ark., Jeff Crawford and wife, Janet Tallin Estonia, Doug Crawford and wife, Cheryl of Indianapolis, Ind., and Julie Adams and husband, John of Little Rock, Ark.; a brother, C.A. Crawford and wife, Grace, of St. Augustine, Fla.; nine grandchildren; and brother-in-law, Mirl Wilmoth and wife, Pat; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at Fellowship Bible Church, 2000 W. Emma, Springdale, Ark. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to be made to Newlife Ranch, Colcord, OK 74338 or favorite charity. Nelson-Berna Funeral Home handled the cremation arrangements. To sign the online guest book please visit www.nelsonberna.com.