Ralph A Crawford Sr., 93, went to Heaven July 29, 2018. Ralph was born February 3, 1925 in Nowata, OK to James McCauley Crawford and Nanny Wesson May Crawford. He was born into a family with 7 children: 3 sisters, Juaneita, Clara, and Stella, and 3 brothers, David, Harold, and Ray. Most of the children were born at the family home there in Nowata. His father was a Blacksmith who had moved his shop to their home place property during the depression. His father shoed horses and repaired buggies and would often take payment in produce such as eggs and sausage. Ralphs older sisters, Juaneita and Clara, got jobs with the telephone company and helped keep the all the children in clothes and shoes for school. His father would also preach on Sundays in small country churches close by Nowata. Ralphs parents insisted on church attendance for the whole family. They attended the First Baptist Church of Nowata where Ralph, at age 11, trusted Jesus as Savior, February 22, 1936. Ralph went to Nowata schools and developed a love for baseball and music. In 1941, while still in high school, Pearl Harbor was bombed, forcing the United States to enter into World War II. Ralph graduated high school in 1943 and was almost immediately drafted into the Army Air Corps. At the completion of his basic training at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri, he was selected to attend electrician school in New York City. He soon boarded a ship as part of the 449th Bomb Group of the 15th Air Force, and headed out across the Atlantic ocean toward Europe. Landing in Italy, he served as an electrician and helped build runways in several locations throughout the country. Later on, more than half of his unit was selected to leave Italy and support the D-Day invasion. Ralph was left behind because his electrical skills were needed. During and after the war he got the opportunity to play in some baseball games with other soldiers while still in Italy. They would sometimes fly in an airplane to the locations where they would play. He even came across an all-black team with which he was allowed to try out and play a few games. One of his officers arranged for Ralph to have his baseball skills evaluated by some major league players who were also serving in Italy. After a few rounds of batting practice, Ralph realized he couldnt hit a fast ball! His dream of playing baseball would not come true. Being left behind in Italy after most of his friends had gone home, Ralph began to feel God leading him to special service in the ministry, but in just what area, he did not know. Ralph surrendered and agreed to seek out Gods will what ever it may be. It was only after he made this decision that he received his orders to go home. He was discharged having achieved the rank of Sergeant. His military service experiences gave him an immense and proud sense of patriotism and appreciation for the flag and patriotic music. Back home in Nowata, he was advised to go to OBU, Oklahoma Baptist University, in Shawnee, OK. In September, 1946, he enrolled. While enrolling and standing in line he noticed a beautiful girl, who was also in line, and he remarked to a friend he would sure like to meet her. The friend immediately went and got her and brought her to Ralph. She said, "Ralph, this is Beverly Huff from Hobart, Oklahoma." Ralph and Beverly hit it off immediately, and Ralph asked her to join him at the OBU faculty reception taking place that evening. After the reception, Ralph and Beverly walked the OBU campus and, much to Ralphs surprise, she told him she had found the one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. After a couple of weeks they announced their engagement! Ralph took Beverly back home to Nowata and they were married August 17, 1947 in a double wedding with his brother, Ray, on a Sunday morning before Sunday School at the First Baptist Church of Nowata. Pastor Alvin Hedin conducted the ceremony. They both returned to Shawnee where Ralph took on a job helping to build houses while he finished school. In 1949, Ralph was asked to go fill in for a Sunday at the Trinity Baptist Church, Enid OK. As it turned out, the church asked Ralph to be their pastor at the end of the Sunday evening service. With money from Beverlys fathers estate, they purchased a car to go back and fourth to Enid from Shawnee. Ralph was ordained in his home church in Nowata on June 1st, 1949. His father was on the ordination panel. He went back and forth to Enid from Shawnee until he graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a BA degree in 1954. It was while living and serving in Enid in December of 1951 that son, Ralph Jr., was born. Soon after completing OBU, Ralph accepted the call to pastor the First Baptist Church of Ryan, OK. This put Ralph in position to attend the Southwestern Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX. After completing seminary, Ralph was called to Trinity Baptist Church in Ada, OK where son, Craig, was born in 1958. While in Ada, Ralph was on radio and television during the periods of time when Adas First Baptist Church was without a pastor. He also taught a course on Social Teachings of the Bible at Adas East Central University for four years. In 1963, after about six years in Ada, Ralph received a call to pastor the First Southern Baptist Church in Del City, Oklahoma. Only about a year and a half later he began to receive calls from the pulpit committee from Olivet Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Ralph didnt think he had been at Del City First Southern long enough to consider moving so soon, so he turned down their invitations several times. Bill Dawson and others on the search committee were persistent and, mid-summer 1964, Ralph became pastor of the Olivet Baptist Church in Oklahoma City where he stayed 25 and a half years. While at Olivet, he led the church in a million dollar building expansion to include a full size gymnasium and dining hall that would accommodate the entire active church membership. During his time at Olivet Oklahoma City, Ralph served on the board of directors or trustees for: Oklahoma Baptist Board of Directors Baptist Hospital Board of Directors Oklahoma Baptist University Board of Trustees Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma Board of Directors He also served as Moderator of the Capital Baptist Association. He served two terms as Trustee of the Capital Baptist Association and served as President and Program Chairmen for the Capital Baptist Association Pastors Conference. He was also nominated in 1988 by Finley Tinnin, Pastor of Oklahoma City Baptist Temple, to be the President of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Ralph lost in a close vote. He retired from Olivet Oklahoma City after over 25 years where he left a legacy dedicated to the mission of the local church as well as foreign missions. In retirement, he served as interim pastor for 13 churches from 1990 to 2007 (two of them twice). In total he preached in 85 churches after retiring in 1990. In all, he preached over 600 funerals, officiated over 300 weddings, and preached over 100 revivals, mostly in Oklahoma but as far away as Flint, Michigan. On November 13, 2004, Oklahoma Baptist University awarded Ralph with the Profiles in Excellence, an award given to highlight the successful careers of selected student alumni. In 2009, he presided over his last funeral, thus bringing to a close 60 years of faithful ministry. After his heart attack on Christmas Day, 2008, Ralph slowed down and began turning away opportunities to speak and to serve, choosing to stay close to his wife, Beverly, who was in declining health. After Beverlys debilitating stroke in 2013, Ralph traveled everyday to visit her in the nursing home in Bethany, weather permitting. He will be remembered as a faithful husband, extraordinary father, playful grandfather, exceptional pastor, teacher, counselor and mentor. His inclusive spirit, sense of humor and friendliness never ceased right up to the very hour he passed. Ralph more than anything wanted to be remembered for telling people how to go to Heaven. He would want you to read the book of John and know Jesus like he did. He would quote John 3:16 to everyone who came to his house and to everyone he met while out and about. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly, of 70 years and 10 months; parents, James M. Crawford, Nanny W. Crawford; sisters, Juaneita L. Garrison, Clara Turner, and Stella Crawford Martin; and brothers, Harold Crawford and David Crawford. He is survived by his younger brother, Ray Crawford of Kansas City, MO; son, Ralph Crawford Jr., son, Craig A. Crawford; daughters-in-law, Laura Crawford and Gwyn Crawford, all of Oklahoma City. He is also survived by grandchildren, Christopher Crawford of Florida, Taylor Winzeler and her husband, John Winzeler, and Elizabeth Hope Compton of Oklahoma City and his great-grandsons, Cooper and Jake Winzeler, also of Oklahoma City. Viewing will be Friday, 9am- 9pm, with family present from 6-8pm at Mercer-Adams, 3925 N. Asbury Ave, Bethany, OK.Services will be August 4th, 10am at the Olivet Baptist Church at 1201 NW 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK with a reception following in the Olivet Dining Hall. Interment will be in Rose Hill Burial Park. Visitation with Family Present Mercer-Adams Funeral Service Friday, August 03, 2018 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM 3925 North Asbury Avenue Bethany, Oklahoma 73008 Viewing will be Friday, 9am-9pm at Mercer-Adams. Funeral Service Olivet Baptist Church Saturday, August 04, 2018 10:00 AM 1201 N.W. 10th St. Oklahoma City, OK