Obituary of Ellen Crawford

Crawford, Ellen Mae (nee Geue) 87, of Wyckoff, formerly of Franklin Lakes, died peacefully on Thursday, February 11. Ellen was born April 9, 1928, in Dallas, Texas. She and her late husband, Wid P. Crawford, were childhood sweethearts in their hometown of Eastland, Texas. Ellen graduated from Eastland High School in 1944 and received a B.S. in Home Economics from the University of Texas at Austin in 1948. While at the university, she was selected to Mortar Board Honor Society and Orange Jackets, a leadership and service organization, as well as serving as an upper class advisor. Upon graduation, Ellen married Wid and went to work, supporting him as he earned his master's and Ph.D. degrees. Ellen was an accomplished musician, playing violin in the Ridgewood and North Jersey Symphonies. She had a lifelong love of art, travel, and bridge. She served in many community organizations and was very active in the Wyckoff Reformed Church choir and PEO, Chapter AD, where she served as Scholar Awards Coordinator. Through her maternal lineage, Ellen was a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT). In addition, Ellen and Wid were members of Arcola Country Club in Paramus. Ellen's devotion to her family was a wonderful example to her children and grandchildren. Ellen's culinary skills are a family legend, and many happy memories of family meals and holidays at her table are her legacy. She and Wid were married for sixty-six years. In addition to her husband Wid, Ellen was predeceased by her parents, Chester and Ethel Geue of Fort Worth, Texas, and a son, Patrick William. She is survived by her loving children, Karen Crawford of Tyler, Texas, Kathy Crawford and her husband Will Spence, of Hawthorne, and Wid Scott Crawford and his wife Jann of Manassas, Virginia. In addition, Ellen is survived by ten grandchildren, Shaye, Jason, Stephanie, Amy, Sloan, Lauren, Evan, Matthew, Daniel, and Taylor, and 7 great grandchildren, as well as her sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Malcolm Hammett, and her loving nephew Daniel Crawford. The family wishes to thank Ellen's caregivers, Kisha Ruff, Shamara Ruff, Karissa Smith, and Tinishia Burton, for the dedication, love, and care they provided Ellen. The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 14 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, February 15 at 11:00 AM at the Wyckoff Reformed Church, 580 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. Burial will follow the service in the church cemetery. If desired, memorials can be made to PEO Executive Office, Chapter AD, Treasurer’s Dept., 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312 (please indicate – Chapter AD-Scholar Awards) or the Wyckoff Reformed Church.