Obituary: George Crawford Jr., Longtime Medford Resident, Retired Boston Police Officer

The following is from Breslin Funeral Home.

George W. Crawford Jr. died peacefully on Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, at the age of 83 of congestive heart failure. Born and raised in Charlestown, he was a lifelong resident of Medford.

George was a devoted husband of 48 years to the late Virginia F. (Harkins) Crawford. He was the son of the late George W. Crawford and Mary (Gallagher) Crawford of Charlestown, and the dear brother of the late Mary O’Donnell, Rosalie Doherty and Elizabeth Russell. He was the beloved father of Cheryl Crawford of Huntington Beach, California, Charlene Hopkins and her husband Paul of Malden, Carrie VanDenBerghe and her husband Larry of Tewksbury and George W. Crawford III and his wife Kristine of Wilmington. George was the cherished grandfather to his four grandchildren Chris, Connor, Maddie and Ashley and a loving companion to his granddogs Riley and Buster. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews and many grand nieces and nephews.

George was a U.S. Marine Veteran and served in the Korean War. He was a Boston Police Officer of Area A-1 for 38 years and retired from the force with distinction in 1996. He was a member of the 1st Marine Division Association, the Korean War Veterans Association, the American Legion Association and the Boston Police Association.

George was an avid Boston sports fan and loved to watch the Bruins, Red Sox and Patriots (whether they were having a winning season or not). He also had a passion
for cooking. Yet our favorite recipe of his was “The Specialty” a baked layered spaghetti dish he learned while he was in the military.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral from the Breslin Funeral Home, 610 Pleasant St., Malden, on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 9 a.m. followed by a mass of Christian burial celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 441 Fellsway West, Medford, at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with interment in Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford. Visiting hours will be held at the funeral home on Monday from 4-8 p.m.