Crawleys Celebrate 60th Anniversary

William A. and Christine (Ericsson) Crawley of Mentor celebrated their 60th Anniversary on August 27, 2020.

Bill and Christine met at her high school’s Saturday “teen-age dance” at the Kloss Inn in Wheeling, W.Va. She was only 16 years old, but in her words, when “this tall, 6’2” handsome young man in a light blue nylon jacket, black slacks and a plaid shirt” smiled at her, “my heart and his told us this was a special night! The next day after school, Bill came into Walgreen’s Drug Store where I worked at the soda fountain…smiled, said hello and ordered a small Coke…. That was the beginning. We somehow knew that someday we would marry!” Christine graduated from Wheeling High School, Class of 1957, and was offered a full scholarship to West Liberty State College. Suddenly, Bill was sent “Greetings from Uncle Sam” and served two years in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany, 1957-59. They wrote every week and once he asked for a new photograph, which she sent. Unbeknownst to her, he entered it in a Valentine’s Day contest, and she was surprised to receive a dozen red roses and a telegram from him, announcing she was “Battalion Sweetheart of Bindlach, Germany”. Upon his return, they were engaged and married August 27, 1960.

Mr. Crawley worked for the Wheeling Steel Co. in Martins Ferry, then The Lincoln Electric Co. in Euclid, retiring in May, 2004 after 40 years employment. He is a scuba diver, loves all sports including basketball and golfing.

Mrs. Crawley worked in Wheeling, W.Va. for the H.S.Hutzell & Co. After moving to Ohio, she worked 6 years for Swearingen & Swearingen, C.P.A. and 14 years for TRW/Argo-Tech in Corporate/Human Resources in Euclid. She was also a realtor for Launders & Associates of Mentor.

They are blessed with five sons, Todd (Carla), Mike (Julie), Bill, Brian and David; grandchildren Andrew, Amber, Jordan, Tyler, Chase, Brynne, Pierson, Carlisle and Tristan; and greatgrandchildren Brooklynn, Zander and Sadee.

In their words, Chris and Bill say, “We feel our love was always meant to be!”