Mr. Noah S. Crawford, 99, passed away Friday, May 9, 2025 at the Warner Center for Caring.

Mr. Crawford was born in Otis, FL which was a small community on the west side of Jacksonville near Baldwin. He was a son of the late John J and Elizabeth Smith Crawford. His mother passed away when he was two years old and his father passed away when he was eight years old. He lived with and was raised by his namesake uncle, Noah Crawford.

He grew up working on his uncle’s farm and working in his uncle’s pulpwood business. His uncle signed for him to join the U. S. Navy at age 17 during World War II. Mr. Crawford served aboard the USS Otter, a destroyer escort, in the North Atlantic during the war.

Upon returning home he worked in the pulpwood business. He eventually went to work for the City of Jacksonville. He retired as a Foreman in the Recreation Department after a 27-year career. Mr. Crawford also worked as a tree surgeon, on a part-time basis. It was said of him, he could fell a tree exactly where he wanted it to land every time. Additionally, he owned and operated his own carpet cleaning business, Colorwise Carpet Care, for over 30 years.

Mr. Crawford earned his 4-year degree from Jones Business College but because he had quit high school before graduation to work on the family farm, Jones College made him return and earn his high school diploma before awarding him its degree. Before moving to Nassau County in the mid 1970’s, he held the distinction of being the first male president of a school PTA in Duval County. He was a member of the Yulee Lions Club and a member of Woodmen of the World for 75 years.

He was loved and admired by his family who remember him as being a hard-working father and family man. He was married to his wife, Theresa, for 62 years, before her passing in 2011. He loved her dearly and always continued to say he was still married to her, even after her passing. As a father his children would remember his bedtime reminder, “5:30 is going to come early!”. His grandchildren will always remember him telling them, “Tomorrow is a good old school day!”.

In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Crawford was predeceased by his siblings, Harley and Essie.

He leaves behind his children, Wanda Simpson, John (Rebecca) Crawford and Linda (Eric) White; his grandchildren, Theresa Walker, Rebecca Collins, Shelly Simpson, Jr., Heuland Simpson, Michael White and Sarah Branigan as well as his great grandchildren, Courtney, Noah Walker, Indigo, Ella, Orion, Hayley, Heuland, Jr., Holden, Michael, II, Gabriel, Noah White, Caroline and Patrick.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 14 at Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors from 5:00 until 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 15, 2025 beginning at 11:00 AM in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors.

He will be laid to rest, with military honors, next to his wife at Sellers Cemetery in Jacksonville.

Rather than flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257, or give online at thefoundationcares.org/give.