Ronnie Crawford

Former longtime Seminole resident Ronnie G. Crawford passed away on January 1, 2010 in Augusta, Kansas at the age of 68. He was born on March 3, 1941 in Seminole, Oklahoma to Frank Wade Crawford and Frankie Irene (Nall) Crawford.  He was a 1959 Graduate of Seminole High School and he attended Seminole State College before graduating from OSU in 1963.  He married Roxana (Conley) Crawford on November 25, 1961 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.  Ronnie built a long prestigious career in finance, starting as a CPA on the audit staff with Ernst and Ernst in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from 1963-1966. He then started his financial career  as a manager in Accounting Policies and Systems with Rockwell International in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, El Segundo, California, and later, in Electronic Operations in Anaheim, California. While still with Rockwell International, he was promoted to Vice President of Finance and Treasurer, at Sumlock Anita LTD., in Uxbridge, Middlesex, England. Upon returning from England, he was Director of Finance and Operations for 3 years, with Rockwell International’s Power Tool Division in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later became Vice President and General Manager of Rockwell’s Industrial Tool Division. In 1980, he was named Vice President of Finance and Administration for Switching Systems Division, in Downers Grove, Illinois for 2 ½ years. In 1983, he was Chief Financial Officer for Avco Lycoming with its Turbine Engine Division in Stratford, Connecticut for 11 years. He then became Chief Financial Officer for Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas for 3 years, and later worked as an independent consultant for Textron, Inc.  Finally, he became Chief Financial Officer for Tru Circle Corp in Wichita and one year later, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board before retiring in 2002.  He leaves to cherish his memories his wife Roxana Crawford of the home, four daughters and sons-in-law: Kimberlea “Kim” and Danny Saldana of Tawanda, Kansas, Kerie Lynn Crawford of Omaha, Nebraska, Kristie Ann and Clinton Pivarnik of Wichita, Kansas, Kellie Jean Crawford and Daniel Kesch of Basel, Switzerland, one brother and sister-in-law:  Dale and Jo Crawford of Grand Prairie, Texas, one brother-in-law: James Arthur and Beth Conley of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, one sister-in-law: Jerry and Johnny Checotah of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, four sisters and brothers-in-law: Wanda Schreiner of Norman, Oklahoma, Ramona and Terry Kring of Norman, Oklahoma, Joyce Castor of Tomball, Texas, Gail and Steve Bonebreak of Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Five grandchildren also survive him:  Corey James Crawford, Jessica Lillian Pivarnik, Curtis Wade Pivarnik, Taite Daniel Saldana and Colby Matthew Pivarnik. He is preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, Harold, George Robert “G.R.”, James Wade, Donnie Ray and Ronnie’s twin brother Johnnie Crawford, and one sister Leona Scott. Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 7, 2010 at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Tommy Clark officiating. Interment will follow at Little Cemetery, Little, Oklahoma.  Pallbearers will be: Terry Schriener, Carl Schriener III, Kenneth Crawford, Corey J. Crawford, Kyle Kring and Clint Pivarnik. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, make donations to the Seminole Alumni Association: www.seminolealumni.com, to the American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org, or to the American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org. Funeral Information: January 7, 2010, 2:00 PM First Baptist Church of Seminole located at 420 Reid Street, Seminole, OK 74868