Billy Dale Crawford, 84, husband of Joyce Gibson Crawford, passed away Monday August 1, 2016 after a long illness. He was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky on May 1, 1932 to the late George Manuel "Alex" Crawford and Christine Dale. Bill has been an active Rotarian for more than twenty years. He was elected to serve at District 6740 Governor in Rotary International's Centennial Year. He is a past Rotary Youth Exchange Chairperson, has hosted five Youth Exchange students, and made presentations on youth exchange at two Rotary conferences. He also has served as the District Membership Chairperson, and has received the Rotary Zone 30 award for membership growth. He was a valedictorian of his graduating class at Carlisle High School, and he attended the U .S. Academy on a congressional appointment. Following his military service, he spent his life in the broadcasting and publishing business. He worked in Europe for 12 years and was retired from WLEX in Lexington in 1994. He also owned and published the weekly newspaper in Carlisle until 2005, when he learned that he had cancer. Bill has served in the Professional Advisory Committee at Western Kentucky University, served as President of the Lexington Advertising Club, served as chair of the Public Relations Committee of the American Federation in Washington, and as a seven-state representative on an NBC Network promotion committee. He has served as a board member of multiple local service agencies in Kentucky, and he also served on the board of The America House while in Nuremburg, Germany. Bill and wife Joyce, an insurance agent, live a quiet life on a small farm about five miles from Carlisle. The 84 year old cancer survivor also lead a Rotary Group Study Exchange team to India and has spoken to thirty four of this district's Rotary Clubs about what Rotary does there in the fight against Polio.
He was preceded in death by his previous wife, Mary Rose Baisden, and a son-in-law Bart Jordan. Funeral services will be held at 11 am Saturday August 6, 2016 at Carlisle-Clark Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Smith officiating with burial following in the Carlisle Cemetery. Visitation Friday 5 – 8 pm. Pallbearers are; Darrell Gibson, Jason Gibson, Michael Stracner, Jeff Jolly, JD Archer and Marshall Evans, Honorary bearers are; John Jordan, Brandon Gibson, and The Old Farts Coffee Club. Carlisle-Clark Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.