ADA LEA DONER CRAWFORD, age 93 years, a former resident of Mill Creek and Valley Bend, WV and more recently a resident of the Elkins Regional Convalescent Center at Elkins, WV departed this life early Thursday morning, December 3, 2009 at the Center following a brief illness.
She was born Wednesday, February 9, 1916 at Mill Creek, WV a daughter of the late Mervin William Doner and Martha Ann Marteney Doner. On April 15, 1960 at Oakland, MD she was married to S. Jackson Crawford, who preceded her in death April 1, 1984. Surviving are one nephew, Martin William Doner, Brooklyn, NY; one niece Pam Doner, Bel Air, MD; and two special friends, Evelyn Snodgrass, Elkins; and Violet Cowger, Clarksburg.
She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Preceding her in death are two brothers, Harry W. Doner and infant Charles J. Doner; one sister in law, Bernice S. Doner; one nephew, Jack S. Doner and a special friend, Willis Butcher.
She attended the schools of Mill Creek, and was a graduate of Tygart Valley High School with the Class of 1933 where she was Valedictorian of her class. She had worked as a receptionist for Dr. Louis H. Nefflen, MD for twenty-eight years, retiring on December 31, 1978. She was a member of the Huttonsville Rebekah Lodge # 103, the John Hart Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Dailey – Valley Bend Ruritanette Club, the Elkins – Randolph County Senior Center where she was a member of the Melody Chorus and the Valley Bend United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Choir. She was honored as being the Belle of Randolph County in 1990. Ada loved music, especially gospel and popular songs and enjoyed singing with the choirs during the holiday seasons. Her interests included cooking and homemaking, American history, the history of the Homestead School and Community and thoroughly enjoyed visiting all the attractions of the State of West Virginia. She will be missed by her family and friends, the Valley Bend United Methodist Church members and the Valley Bend Community.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM, Monday. On Monday, at 7 PM, at the funeral home, the Huttonsville Rebekah Lodge # 103 will conduct ritualistic services. On Tuesday, December 8, 2009, Mrs. Crawford will be moved to the Valley Bend United Methodist Church where friends may call from 11 AM to 12 Noon, the funeral hour. The Reverend Mike Ford will officiate and interment will follow at the Mill Creek Cemetery at Mill Creek, WV. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the Valley Bend United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 86, Valley Bend, WV. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for ADA LEA DONER CRAWFORD. Condolences may be expressed to the family at; www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com
