Allen Pruitt Crawford

Allen Pruitt Crawford, 95, of The Maples, died March 17, 2010. Son of Robert and Blanche Pruitt Crawford, he is survived by a sister, three brothers, three nieces and eight nephews.

Graduated from Furman University in 1936, he received a master's degree from Rochester, Union and Columbia Universities. He served seven years with American Baptist Convention as a consultant in religious education in Michigan and New York states.

In 1947, he joined Ford Motor Company, NY City public relations staff as Editor. The newspaper was judged the best of Company publications in news content, makeup, readability and originality. Retiring in 1971, Crawford returned to Honea Path and opened West View Gallery- an antique collection of American art, furniture, Oriental rugs. The Atlanta Journal called it "one of the largest of its kind in the South". Elderhostel advertised the Gallery as a U. S. Tourist site. A 225- page report "Curiosity Shop of American Artists" is in the American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution. The book will be published by Falk Art Reference, Madison, CT. Eighty gallery items loaned to the University and cash to the Crawford Endowment Fund total more than $2 million in value. The Fund, established to preserve and enhance the University's collection of antiques, is the only donation of its kind in the school's 184- year history. The Furman Trustees named a road and a conference room in his honor, and a titled bronze plaque paying tribute to Allen and his brothers, James and Ned is embedded in a millstone located by the Janie Earle Furman Rose Garden.

Services will be at the Crawford Family Plot at Little River Baptist Church (EST 1791) 2847 Keowee Road Honea Path, SC on Friday, March 19, 2010 at 2:30p.m.

Mr. Crawford respectfully requested no flowers.

Service

Little River Baptist Church Cemetery
Keowee Rd
Honea Path, SC  29654
Friday, March 19, 2010
2:30 PM