Ralph Wilson Crews

Crews, Ralph Wilson, Lt. Col. USAF, Retired of Golden Valley, MN passed away on December 28, 2013 at the age of 95. He was born on May 28, 1918 to Walter Henry and Mabel Jeremy Crews in Saxe, Virginia. He attended the two-room Saxe School, Drakes Branch High School and graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, now known as Virginia Tech, in 1942 with a degree in civil engineering. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Corps and immediately left for Europe on the Queen Mary and served in WWII in England, France and Germany. When he returned in 1946, he was assigned to Lowry Field in Denver, Colorado where he met his wife, Betty Joanne Anderson. He had assignments in Texas, New Mexico, Illinois, Ohio, California, and Wyoming. He attended Ballistic Missile School at Ft. Bliss and received a master's degree in Research Management from the University of Chicago in 1953. After serving 22 years in the Air Force, he retired as Lieutenant Colonel and his last assignment was on the construction of 150 Minuteman Missile sites. These missiles were a major deterrent to war with the Soviets. When a dignitary once questioned whether we would ever get our money's worth out of the massive nuclear weapons, he could only reply, "You better hope not." He worked 14 years for the Federal Aviation Agency. He is a long time member of Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church, the Golden Valley Historical Society, St. David's Society, American Legion and enjoyed reading, maps, and collecting stamps. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Betty Joanne, of Golden Valley; his five children, Richard Crews of Encinitas, CA, Mandy Heard (husband Don), of Eau Claire, WI, Betsy Carnahan (husband James) of Edina, MN, Stephen Crews, of Jacksonville, Fl, Kenneth Crews (wife Elizabeth) of Los Angeles, CA. Also survived by 9 grandchildren, Elizabeth Mascaro (husband Anthony), Terry Heard (wife Melissa), Gary Heard, Emily Carnahan, Margaret Carnahan, Paul Carnahan, Alex Crews, Veronica Crews, and Arthur Crews. Memorials can be made to the Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church in Golden Valley, MN, or the Golden Valley Historical Society. Interment Tuesday 12/31/13 at 11:00 a.m. at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens. Memorial Service Tuesday 12/31/13 at 12:00 noon at Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church, 7600 Harold Ave, Golden Valley, with a lunch following. www.Washburn-McReavy.com Glen Haven Chapel 763-533-8643

Tributes

Ralph Wilson Crews

December 28, 2013

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203