Forrest Monroe Crawford of Crawfordsville died Tuesday evening in St. Vincent Hospice at Indianapolis. He was 84.

He was born Oct. 11, 1926, at Indianapolis, to Dan and Ethel (Brown) Crawford, but was raised by his grandparents, Guy and Sally Marsh Crawford.

He moved to Crawfordsville in 1971 and said "he had finally found home."

After 30 years working for at Standard Grocery as a supervisor and then owned and operated two Crawford's Grocery Stores in Crawfordsville.

He was most proud of the opportunity of being a businessman in Crawfordsville where he could give back to the community. One of his favorite projects was The Food & Fashion Show. Instead of accepting patron's funds, Mr. Crawford would request items or donations to be raffled at the show. He earned $65,000 with total proceeds being given to the three area high schools for school projects.

He was a World War II Navy veteran. He was also a 40-year Kiwanis member, past board member of Indiana Retail Grocer's Association, American Legion 72, past board member of Crawfordsville Country Club, Elks 483, Eagles 1005, Montgomery County Genealogy Club, Lew Wallace Study and a patron of Mount Vernon Foundation.

Survivors include: his children, Patricia Louise Compton of Austin, Texas, Forrest Michael Crawford of Crawfordsville and Karen Sue Crawford of Crawfordsville; brothers, Kenneth of Brownsburg and Arvine of Indianapolis; sisters, Leota and Jolene; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

His wife Margaret Ann Peacock died in 1984.

Funeral mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, with Father Dennis Faker officiating. Burial with military rites by the VFW and American Legion will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call 4-8 p.m. Friday at Hunt & Son Funeral Home, 107 N. Grant Ave.

Memorials may be made to the new city nature park. Make checks payable to City of Crawfordsville Nature Park in memory of Forrest Crawford. The mailing address is 300 E. Pike St., Crawfordsville, IN 47933.