Carolyn Crawford

Carolyn May Mehlenbacher Crawford, age 86, of Edinboro, passed away at home surrounded by her loving husband and family on Saturday, August 21, 2021.

She was born February 3, 1935 in Nunda, NY. Carolyn attended Nunda Central School and graduated in 1953. She married Vance Leo Mehlenbacher on July 4, 1954 in Mount Morris, NY. They moved to Edinboro in 1956 and proceeded to raise four wonderful children together.  Vance passed away from cancer after being married for 37 years.

Carolyn was a longtime faithful member of First United Presbyterian Church in Edinboro, where she started the first 3 year old Sunday school class, was the first paid secretary, served as an elder, was a clerk of session, sang in the church choir, started the first bell choir in 1967 in which she directed for 40 years, and was involved in the Women’s Association Women’s Circle.  She was part of the Edinboro Fire Dept. Auxiliary and served as president several times for the Town and Country Garden Club.

She will always be remembered by the many children she cared for operating an in-home childcare for over 30 years. Each child was very special to her. Her passion was to do crafts, particularly knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, quilting, and ceramics, and in her later years to keep her mind sharp, she enjoyed playing video games.

Other than her first husband, she is preceded in death by her parents, Mariam and Frank Watkins; a brother, Ralph Watkins, and an uncle, Elmer Rathbun.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 27 years, Arthur Crawford, who she married on August 6, 1994 and whose love kept her going and gave her the best quality of life in her final years; two sons, Randy (Debbie) Mehlenbacher of Edinboro and Mark (Julie) Mehlenbacher of Slippery Rock; two daughters, Laurie (Greg) Manusky of Mount Pleasant, SC and Vanessa (Blaine) Vesely of Kent, Ohio; also, 11 grandchildren, Craig, Kelly, Tara, Sara, Ariel, Seth, Colton, Jake, Logan, Chandler, and Nora; 9 great grandchildren, Anna, Evan, Miller, Brooklynn, Sydney, Jack, Luke, Levi, Parker; 4 sisters-in-law, Jacque (John) Terry, Dolly (Joe) Petagno, Pam Geyer and Debbie Crawford; and many nieces and nephews.

The Glunt Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Edinboro, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visiting hours on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at First United Presbyterian Church, 4281 Rte. 6N, Edinboro, from 4-8 p.m. A funeral service will be held there on Thursday at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Edinboro Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First United Presbyterian Church or to the Edinboro Vol. Fire Dept.  A special thank you from the family to the LECOM Visiting Nurse Association of Erie County Home Health Care and Hospice for their compassion and care of Carolyn and her family. To send condolences please visit www.gluntfuneralhome.com.