Joan Crawford

Joan Ruth (Bielau) Crawford, 87, of Swanton, MD, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2010, at her home on Deep Creek Lake.

Born September 14, 1923 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she was the eldest of four daughters of the late Otto Theodore and Ruth (Sexhauer) Bielau. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, William E. "Bill" Crawford, Jr., whom she married on November 17, 1945.

Joan was a 1940 graduate of Carrick High School and a January 1944 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. She entered the United States Navy in February 1944 and served for 2 years as a Navy WAVE Dispersing Officer, attaining the rank of Lieutenant (JG).

Following World War II and her marriage, Joan settled in Pittsburgh where she was an English teacher and Chair of the English Department at Keystone Oaks High School in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. She was also a Leader of her daughters' Brownie Troop # 1145 and Girl Scout Mariner Troop # 867.

Joan became a part-time resident of Garrett County, Maryland in 1954 and a full-time resident in the spring of 1972. She joined the Faculty of Garrett Community College in the fall of 1972 where she worked for over 30 years. During that time she served as the Head of the Humanities Division and Director of Enrollment Management, was named to Who's Who Among American Teachers three times, received the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Garrett Community College in 1999, and was the Faculty Representative working with students and community members to create the first Garrett County Special Olympics. Upon her retirement from the College, she was named as the first Professor Emeritus of Garrett Community College.

Following her retirement from Garrett College she volunteered her time and expertise teaching creative writing and memoir writing to seniors in nursing homes and at the Mary Browning Senior Center. She also became a frequent contributor to The Republican newspaper with her "Been There" articles. In 2003 she was elected to the Garrett County Women's Hall of Fame.

Joan was a member of numerous community organizations and boards including Garrett County Arts Council, Garrett Lakes Art Festival, Habitat for Humanity and Appalachian Crossroads. She was a member of the Deep Creek Yacht Club at Turkey Neck, Women's Civic Club, American Legion Proctor Kildow Post and Southern Garrett County Republican Women's Club. She served as a VIVA Volunteer at Garrett County Memorial Hospital.

Joan is survived by two daughters: Judge Susan J. Crawford and her husband Roger W. Higgins of Falls Church, VA and Deep Creek Lake, MD and Dr. Mikal Crawford and her husband Dr. John Lowe of Winterport, ME; three granddaughters: Erin McLaughlin, Katie McLaughlin, and Kelley Higgins; three sisters: Miriam Smouse and her husband Jack Smouse, Grantsville, MD and Jensen Beach, FL, Arlene Killian and her husband William Killian, Lancaster, PA, and Barbara Nivus and her husband Jon Nivus, Laconia, NH; twelve nieces and nephews; 23 grandnieces and grandnephews; and many dear friends and former students. She was followed in death on October 6 by her loyal and much-loved 4-legged companion, Belquest's Midnight Forest "Gump."

At Joan's request her remains were cremated. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 11 am in the auditorium of Garrett College followed by a reception in the Art Gallery of the College. Inurnment of her ashes will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Joan requested that memorials take the form of a contribution to the Garrett College Foundation, Joan B. and William E. Crawford Scholarship Fund, 687 Mosser Road, McHenry, MD 21541 or to Hospice of Garrett County, P.O. Box 271, Oakland, MD 21550.

Arrangements are by David A. Burdock Funeral Home, P.A., 21 N. 2nd Street, Oakland, MD 21550.

For online condolences and guestbook visit www.burdockfuneralhome.com.

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