Date of death: 2/25/2014
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1966
Rev. Larry P. Crawford was born July 26, 1940, to Charles Leonard and Elizabeth Lucille Coomes in Owensboro, KY. He received the Sacrament of Baptism in St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro. The family moved to Tell City in 1943 and, then, to Indianapolis in 1945.Fr. Crawford attended St. Catherine of Siena Grade School (1946-54), and Saint Meinrad High School (1954-58). He earned a BS in biology from Saint Meinrad College (1958-62) and also graduated from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology (1962-66). He was ordained in the Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln on May 1, 1966. He served as assistant pastor, Holy Spirit, Indianapolis, and high school instructor at Scecina Memorial High School.In 1968, he was appointed assistant pastor of Holy Family, Richmond with chaplaincy at Richmond State Hospital, which included serving on the committee which built the interdenominational chapel on the grounds there. He was also the Deanery CYO Director. In 1971, he was named the assistant pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel, Indianapolis, and, then as pastor of Holy Trinity, Indianapolis in 1976, where they expanded the child day care center, hosted the Indianapolis Parks Department recreation program, established the Adult Day Care Center, and hosted a home for battered women.From 1982 – 1996, he served as Archdiocesan Director of the Office of Pro-Life Activities, where on both local and national levels he guided the office to promote the dignity of all human life. In 1985, he was named pastor of Holy Name in Beech Grove, and, in 1987, he was made pastor of St. Mary and St. Michael in Madison, IN. He became pastor of St. Ann, Indianapolis in 1988.In 1991 he began as pastor of St. Simon the Apostle, Indianapolis, where he guided the relocation of the parish and oversaw building the new St. Simon Parish complex 1998. In 1999 he was appointed pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel, Indianapolis, from where he retired in 2013.Fr. Crawford was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and David Sanders.He is survived by his sister, Brenda Kelley (Mike); brother, Gary Crawford; nieces and nephews, Sean Sanders, Angie Lisec, Beth Tiplick, Brian Sanders (Tracy), Chris Kramer (Scott), Jeannine Dwyer, Todd Crawford, Dawn Crawford, Rachele Crawford, Garrett Crawford (Wendy); and 23 great nieces and nephews.Services will be at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church, 6000 W. 34th St., Indianapolis, IN 46224 on Monday, March 3, 2014 beginning with Reception of the Body at 3 p.m. with visitation from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. followed by a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. There will be additional visitation on Tuesday at St. Gabriel Church from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association or St. Gabriel Church. Online condolences may be shared with the family at orileyfuneralhome.com.