Obituary of Wid Crawford

CRAWFORD, Wid P., age 87 of Wyckoff and Long Beach Island, died peacefully with his family by his side on Sunday, July 6, 2014. Born in Burkburnett, TX, Wid and his wife, Ellen, grew up in Eastland, TX. He served his country proudly in the United States Navy during World War II. Wid graduated from Texas A&M University in 1948 and received a Bachelor of Science degree. He later returned to Texas A&M where he earned a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1958. While at Texas A&M, he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Zeta Honorary fraternities. Wid and Ellen lived in Franklin Lakes before moving to Wyckoff in 1986. He retired in 1994 as President of the Animal Health Division of Pfizer in New York City after 36 years of service. Dr. Crawford was a member of the American Society of Animal Science, the American Poultry Association, the American Chemical Society, and served as director of the Animal Health Institute. Wid was a member of the Wyckoff Reformed Church and Activities Unlimited (AU), where he served as president and lead bass player in the AU Band. He was a member of Arcola Country Club in Paramus. Wid is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Ellen (nee Geue), his devoted children, Karen and her husband Steve White of Tyler, TX, Kathy Crawford and her husband Will Spence of Hawthorne, NJ, and Wid Scott Crawford and his wife Jann of Mannassas, VA. Wid also leaves his 10 grandchildren, Shaye, Jason, Stephanie, Amy, Sloan, Lauren, Evan, Matt, Daniel and Taylor and 4 great grandchildren as well as his loving nephew Dan Crawford. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11:00 AM at the Wyckoff Reformed Church, 580 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The Crawford family will receive family and friends at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home (www.vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ on Wednesday, 2:00 until 4:00 and 7:00 until 9:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Texas A&M Association of Former Students (www.aggienetwork.com), College Station, TX 77840 or the Wyckoff Reformed Church.