Obituary of David Crawford

David Crawford, of Yuba City, CA, passed away August 6, 2023, surrounded by his family. He celebrated his 88th birthday this year in the company of his children and grandchildren. During this celebration he stated, "You know, I have had a good life!" David was born on May 7, 1935, to Thomas and Lita Crawford in Marysville, California. As the eighth of eleven children in a close-knit family David had an active childhood growing up in District Ten. With three older brothers to pave the way, David was a standout athlete at Marysville High School where he lettered in football and basketball. After graduating he played one season of football at Yuba College before joining the Army.
At a barn dance in the foothills, David met the great love of his life, Annette Nicholau. They married in 1959, and were later blessed with three children, Mark, Jan and Cheryl. David and Annette shared a wonderful sense of adventure. From the early years of camping trips to Giants games in the old Candlestick Park, to traveling abroad with family and friends, they rarely declined an invitation. David landed his first job working as a lineman with Pacific Bell. Throughout the years, he made his way into a management role which only served to deepen his connection to the telephone community. His ability to identify and solve problems, coupled with his ability to be fair, were an underlying theme throughout his life. In 1992, David retired, and he and Annette embraced their roles as grandparents and avid youth sports fans. They followed their grandchildren all over the country cheering and enjoying the ride! A lifelong athlete, in his next chapter he took up golf and quickly began playing in and organizing tournaments for the members of SIRS. His phone was always ringing, and golf and lunch dates began filling his calendar. He was as competitive as they come, but always enjoyed watching others succeed. He was a true "team player" in every aspect of life which served him well. David was preceded in death by his wife, Annette; his parents; brothers, Jim, Bob, Richard and Jon; and sisters, Dorothy, Merry, Barbara, Charlyn, and Jessica. He is survived by his sister, Zetta; children, Mark (Kathy), Janice and Cheryl (Jeff); and by he and Annette's four grandchildren: Zoe Nightingale, Noa Nightingale, Kalee (Corey) Mills and Jake Crawford. In 2019, David and Annette celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary where the entire family gathered in North Carolina to attend his granddaughter, Kalee's wedding. As one of his grandkids stated, "We are so lucky that we have that memory, we were all together." David felt that he was a blessed man. We would like to thank Sutter Hospice and Emerald Oaks Senior Community for ensuring that David's final days were comfortable. A Celebration of David's Life will be held on August 21, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Ullrey Memorial Chapel with a reception to follow at Peach Tree Country Club.