Kenneth Crawford

Ken joined the Navy August 1944 and was assigned to a huge Tugboat USSATA-206 carrying equipment to the Pacific. Then Ken was assigned to the USS Abscon AVP 23 out of Charlotte, NC which patrolled the Atlantic and Caribbean for German ships until he was discharged July 1946. Ken met and married Audrey Grace Mitchell on July 13, 1947. In 1950 Ken joined the USAF and was assigned to the 156th Fighter Squadron at Ft. Knox. There he was trained on P-51 aircraft and shipped to Manston, England in 1951 to support NATO. In 1957 the family was sent to Netherlands, 1950 Clovis New Mexico, Myrtle Beach SC 1962, Misawa Japan 1966 and returned to the United States it was stationed in MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL. where he retired in 1969. Ken started a new career with Wackenhut Security Corp. as the Area Manager for the next 20 + years working in Tampa, Jacksonville, and Sarasota where Ken retired for his second career.

Ken is preceded in death by his son, Kenneth Martin, Jr., 3 brothers, James, Clifford and Vance and sister, Margie (Deaton). Survivors include his beloved wife of 72 years, Audrey, children, Keith Michael (wife Sally) and Tammy (Lennox) husband Robert, sister, Lilla “Ovie” (Haggerty), 3 grandchildren, Kerri (Brooks) husband Andy, Kenneth Munroe (wife Jean), and Ellenor Grace, 4 great grandchildren, Anna, David, Clinton, and Michaela.

Ken, enjoyed many years of boating, playing golf. He loved watching football and NASCAR. He was a dedicated man who took pride in his country and especially his family.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, December 21, 2019 in the Historical Chapel at First United Methodist Church of Oviedo, 263 King Street, Oviedo, FL 32765 followed by Military Honors. Kenneth’s final resting place will be at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to HOPE Helps,Inc. www.hopehelps.org or Military support team First United Methodist Church https://fumcoviedo.com/