Walter J. Crawford, Sr., 91, of Beaumont died May 4, 2004 at Calder Woods. Born April 18, 1913 in Beaumont, Mr. Crawford attended Averill Elementary School and graduated in 1929 from Beaumont High. He then enrolled in Culver Military Academy graduating in 1931 and was then accepted at Rice University, where he received a B.A. degree, majoring in Physics, in 1936.
On April 17, 1936, Walter married Mary Edna McKallip of Houston. The couple settled in Beaumont, with Walter taking a job in the engineering department with Magnolia Petroleum Company. During the next two years, he along with two other partners formed Transit Mix Concrete Company.
After leaving Magnolia in 1939, he began a crude oil barging company, Barge Transportation Company of Houston. For the next four years, he operated the company, contracting for Gulf, Humble, and Magnolia Petroleum Companies and transported crude oil in Intracoastal Canal from Louisiana to Texas.
In 1944 he enlisted in the United States Navy as an Ordinance Officer, served at the Ordinance Plant in Charleston, West Virginia, and served as Maintenance Officer for Carnegay, Illinois Steel Ordinance Plant until the end of World War II. After his discharge from the Navy, he returned to Beaumont and became active in the oil and gas business as well as in Transit Mix Concrete Company.
Mr. Crawford and his partners acquired land for the development of New Calder Place, which included the property from 19th through 23rd Streets, north of Harrison. A portion of this property is now currently occupied by Trinity United Methodist Church. He and his partners built Longfellow Apartments in 1962 and operated them for the next twenty years. The apartments were sold in 1990, and Transit Mix Concrete was sold to Trinity Industries during this time.
Mr. Crawford served as director of First National Bank from 1943 until 1984, and was a director of Entex from its formation in the 1970‘s until 1983.
Mr. Crawford was very involved in civic activities. He served as director of Texas Research League and Texas Independent Royalty Owners Association; was commissioner and chairman of Beaumont Navigation District for fifty years; was past chairman of the Oil and Gas Committee and Waterway Committee with the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce; and was a life member of Texas Ornithological Society.
He served two terms as Senior Warden and Vestry with St. Mark’s Episcopal Church; served on the board of St. Mark’s Foundation; was trustee with St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin; and was past member of the Standing Committee and Diocesan Finance Committee with the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Edna McKallip Crawford of Beaumont; son, Walter J. Crawford, Jr. and his wife Suzanne of Beaumont; daughters, Alice Crawford Thomas and her husband L. P. “Terry”, and Mary Crawford Wolff and her husband David all of Houston; and grandchildren, Walter J. Crawford III, Louise Crawford, Ben Crawford, Kendall Thomas Scheffey and her husband Eric, Kathleen Thomas Woodberry and her husband John, Carolyn Wolff, and Elizabeth Wolff; and great grandchildren, Sloan Woodberry, Carson Woodberry, and Heston Scheffey.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 7, 2004 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. Graveside services will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Glenwood Cemetery, Houston. A gathering of family and friends will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service in the Cloister Room of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 680 Calder, Beaumont, Texas 77701, or to the charity of your choice.
