John A. Crawford Jr., 88, of 39 Apple St. Rimersburg [Phillipston] died at 1:45 PM Saturday July 12, 2014 at Forbes Hospice in Pittsburgh.

Born in Phillipston, December 23, 1925, He was the son of John A. Sr. and Hazel Dorothy Thompson Crawford.

John was veteran of WW II who proudly served his country with the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa, Hiroshima, and Iwo Jima for a total of 32 months during the war.

He worked many years in the fields as a heavy equipment operator and retired as a self-employed handyman.

John enjoyed collecting old boats, cars, and motorcycles, many of which he still owned.

He is survived by 3 daughters; Cheryl Pezzuti and husband Mario of Sligo, Karen McNaughton of Phoenix, Oregon, and Janie Cook and her husband Terry of Parker, 2 sons; Ed Crawford of Phillipston and Patrick Crawford and his wife Patricia of Distant, 17 grandchildren and 29 greatgrandchildren.

John is also survived by his longtime companion, Judy Runyan of Rimersburg. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother; Robert ‘Bub’ Crawford.

He was preceeded in death by his past wife Pauline Corbett Crawford of New Bethlehem, whom was also the mother of his five children.

The family will receive friends from 5 PM until the time of services at 7 PM Tuesday July 15, 2014 from the Varner Funeral Home of Rimersburg, 583 Main St.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the First Church of God in New Bethlehem, Pa.

Full military honors will be accorded by the ceremonial squads of the Shearer-Shick American Legion Post 454 and the VFW Post 7132 of Rimersburg.