Dr. Ronald Ray Crawford, age 80, of Grove City, Ohio, went home to Jesus on August 19, 2025.

Ron was born on April 23, 1945, in Dayton, Ohio to the late Kenneth and Gaynell Bates Crawford. He is also preceded in death by his sister, Kathleen Inboden; son-in-law, Christopher Lewis; and sister, Vickie Ellinger.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dorothy Crawford; daughters, Melody Lewis, Elizabeth (Bob) Coltrane, and Julia (Joshua) Brunet; and GRANDchildren, Cara, Caleb, Coleson and Carter Brunet, Stephanie (Nate) Bolinger, and GRANDchildren, Adelaide and Ezra.

Dr. Crawford was a graduate of Logan High School, Logan, Ohio; Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology Education, graduating cum laude; Purdue University with a Master of Science degree; and Ball State University with a Doctorate in Science Education, graduating magna cum laude.

 Dr. Crawford has taught on the high school level as well as serving as Science Professor at Oklahoma Weslyan University, Ball State University, Indiana University, and Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Dr. Crawford also served as an administrative team member, of six administrators, who founded the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities, a residential school for gifted students in Indiana. He served as the chairperson of the science department in that capacity.  The academy was built from “scratch” to develop the education of high school juniors and seniors in Indiana.

He also taught online science classes that were broadcast to high school classes across Indiana, sponsored by Ball State University. His work in this area was highlighted in the April 17, 1990, issue of Time Magazine.Dr. Crawford served his church in many capacities as board member, Sunday School Superintendant, Sunday School teacher, song leader, youth leader, Bible Quiz Master, Children’s Church Director, VBS/Director/Teacher, and Barbershop Quartet member. He was also a Gideon.

He enjoyed and  had a lifelong love of history, Biblical archeology, the study of space, and enjoyed model rocketry and model airplanes. He loved his years of running various 5K races and serving as cross country coach. He often stated that his trips to Israel were a highlight to his life.

Ron is a beloved, devoted son, husband, son-in-law, father, father-in-law, and grandfather. We, his family, celebrate his precious life and are grateful that he is now enjoying personal fellowship with Jesus and family members that have gone on before him in heaven. Ron has always given God the Glory with his life and has witnessed that he is a sinner saved by God’s amazing grace! His life verse in the Bible can be found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” His faith was governed by verses 13-16, his entire life. Thank you, Jesus!

Funeral service will held at 11:00am Monday August 25, 2025 at the Fairview Church near Rockbridge with Rev. Richard Coleson and Rev. Greg Inboden officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.

Visitation will be held 4-6pm Sunday at the Heinlein-Brown Funeral Home in Logan, and 10 -11am Monday at the church.

The family suggest, in lieu of flowers, donations to be made to: Mission Aviation Fellowship, PO Box 47 Nampa, ID 83653-0047.