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IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Billy G.

Billy G. Crow Profile Photo

Crow

December 20, 2017

Obituary

VALLEY CENTER, KANSAS

BILLY G. CROW, 85, passed away on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 in Wichita, Kansas. Bill Crow was born on October 3, 1932, near Haydonville, Oklahoma, northeast of Okemah.  His parents were TJ and Flossie Crow.  He was preceded in death by his wife Mildred, daughter JoAnne, parents TJ and Flossie Crow, brothers Ervine and Elbert, sisters Lo Trell, Opal, and Maxine.  He is survived by his children Janice, Robert, Joyce and Julie, ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  Bill's three great loves were his God, his country, and his family in that order.  He felt that without those three life wasn't worth living or dying for. Bill was born in the middle of the Great Depression. His parents were sharecroppers and farmworkers, Bill's father worked for the WPA and helped build Okemah Lake.  Bill attended Pleasant Valley and Okfuskee grade schools.  When his family moved to Okemah, he attended Okemah public schools, graduating from high school in 1951. Bill and his parents attended First United Pentecostal church of Okemah.  Bill's favorite Bible verse is found in Matthew 28:28 which states in part "Lo I am with you always even until the end of time". Bill kept that verse in his memory and it was with him when he was in a frozen wasteland of Alaska, the deserts of Libya, the jungles of Vietnam and was with him as he stood by the graveside of his parents, his brothers, his child and wife.  He knows that God will be with him as he crosses into heaven. Bill helped his father on the farm harvesting crops.  Later after the family moved to Okemah, Bill shined shoes, delivered newspapers, cleaned stores, mowed lawns, and any other work he could find to help the family. After graduating high school, Bill went to Abilene, Texas and worked in the oil fields as a roustabout and roughneck. In September of 1952, Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force and served until April of 1974, when he retired as a master sergeant.  Bill served at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base Wyoming, Sheppard Air Force Base Wichita Falls, Texas, Elmendorf Air Force Base Anchorage, Alaska, Forbes Air Force Base Topeka, Kansas, Whellus Air Force Base Tripoli, Libya, Lackland Air Force Base San Antonio, Texas, Phu Cat Airbase Vietnam, Offut Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska, Anderson Air Force Base Guam, and McConnell Air Force Base Wichita, Kansas. Bill retired from McConnell Air Force Base in April 1974. While in Alaska, though mutual friends, Bill met Mildred Engle.  They were married July 10, 1956.  They had five children, Janice, Robert, Joyce, Julie and JoAnne. While stationed on Guam, JoAnne passed away from complications of double pneumonia. She was brought back to Wichita, Kansas for burial. That's how Bill came to be stationed at McConnell.  After retiring from the Air Force, Bill trained to become a plumber, eventually ending up at Boeing, Wichita, KS.  Working there until his retirement in 1996.  After Mildred's death in 2005, Bill became involved with Good Grief of Kansas, helping people cope with the loss of a loved one through death.  Bill became a facilitator working with the program for over six years. Bill always wanted to help people and make a difference in the world. He tried to do this through his church and his involvement with Good Grief. Bill liked to tell jokes and make people laugh. He felt that laughter was important and helped ease tension. If the joke was on him, so much the better. Even in death Bill liked to make people laugh and as you reflect on his life, it would please him greatly if you would tell Bill stories and laugh about them. As Bill is a veteran at his graveside, you will hear Taps being played, but remember that reveille will have already been played in heaven. Service 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 27, at Grace Connections, 300 N. Ash, Valley Center.  Graveside following the service at Old Mission Cemetery, 3424 E. 21 st N., Wichita, Kansas. Memorials to Grace Connections, 300 N. Ash, Valley Center, Ks 67147 or Good Grief of Kansas, 2622 W. Central, Wichita, Ks 67203. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com
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