Bill and Esther Crawley acquired some land near Usquepaug, Rhode Island, in the 1940s. Rustic and largely undeveloped, the land and the “country house” passed to Dan and Susan Crawley on Esther’s death. It is now part of the Richmond and South Kingstown Land Trusts.

Obituary: Willard Batchelor Crawley

A brief biography was included in the bulletin of the funeral service at Bethesda Lutheran Church, New Haven, Conn., on 30 November 1983.

Bill Crawley   A photo taken during his time at Brown University, possibly spring-summer of 1928.

Willard B. Crawley was born in New Haven, Conn., on September 6, 1906. He died in his home in Hamden, Conn., on November 26, 1983.

Willard was the beloved husband of Esther Hallington for 39 years. They were married on November 26, 1944, in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. He was preceded in death by his two sons, John, who died as an infant, and Peter, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident this past summer at age 35. Bill was the proud grandfather of two children, Daniel and Susan of Tiverton, Rhode Island. He is also survived by a sister, Elizabeth Hill, of Orono, Maine.

An honors graduate of Brown University, Class of 1928, Bill spent most of his working career with the New Haven Railroad. He served as head mechanical engineer for many years. Railroading was not just a job for Bill, but a real love of his life.

Among his many interests beyond work were stamp collecting, coin collecting, and minerals. He was also an avid outdoorsman who loved to hike and work among the large stand of trees he planted on his plot of land in Rhode Island. Bill was an active member of Bethesda Church for many years. He served as a member of the Church Council as well as a variety of other committees.

Bill's remains will be buried in the South Burial Ground in Warren, Rhode Island.