Obituary of Edward L. Crow

Edward L. Crow lost his battle with heart and kidney disease on July 5, 2012. Surviving are his wife Carol of 62 years, sons Wayne and wife Debbie, David and wife Carmen, Stephen and wife Sue and a daughter Debbie; 6 highly achieving grandchildren, Eduardo and wife Estela, Kevin, Gary, Nathan, Jesse and Anna. Born in Cameron, West Virginia, he graduated Valedictorian from Cameron High School in 1944. He received a B.A. in Economics from West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon in 1949 (where he met his future wife). Ed served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1946. He attended a summer session at the University of Zurich, in Switzerland with courses in European Economics and Political Science. In 1951, Edward and Carol married on April 2, 1950. They established themselves in Philadelphia to continue studies, start a family and professional endeavors. Ed received an M.B.A. from the Wharton Graduate School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia with a major in marketing. Ed's first job out of graduate school was with the Atlantic Richfield Refinery Company. They later moved back to West Virginia to help expand Carol's father's hardware store business. Then, they moved back to Philadelphia for Ed to pursue a Ph.D. in Marketing, while lecturing at the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. He subsequently worked at the Saturday Evening Post, National Analysts and Behavior Systems Inc. In 1972, Ed formed E. L. Crow, Inc. Marketing and Economic Consultants. As a marketing consultant, Ed developed and worked closely with a wide variety of government, non-profit, private and commercial clients directing market feasibility studies. Some of the more noteworthy communities that he helped to redevelop were, among others, Old City Philadelphia, Manayunk, Pittsburgh, Ephrata, Schwenksville, Kennett Square, Albany NY and Savannah GA. Ed had a vision of what the world could be like ... of neighborhoods working together to create a better life in the community. His believe was that economic motivation should lead community development. He uniquely related to both the man on the street and to those in the corporate board room, the community activist to the business retailer. He was welcomed in the black, Hispanic and various other ethnic mix communities in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and small town business districts from Savannah, GA to Albany, NY. His impact never sought recognition, but gave credit to others. He never compromised his integrity or lost faith in a higher good. He gave much more of himself than he was ever paid and he maintained a clear vision of who he was and where he stood. Once contemplating a life of full-time Christian service, his pragmatic side won and he determined that the world needed more strong Christian business persons. In 2003, he published a book "Paths and Pitfalls" - on the way to a new vibrancy in older retail districts focusing on the Philadelphia neighborhood of Manayunk. Ed had always been passionate about helping others through his involvement in community and church. He was a member of Masonic Lodge, church choir and active leader with the Boy Scouts and at church and community councils. Ed had a zest for life, good humor, good work ethic, was a successful professional, faithful husband, proud father and grandfather. He was an example to family and friends as a devoted Christian family man. A memorial service will be held at his church First Presbyterian Church of Springfield in Flourtown on Sat. July 14, 2012 at 11am with a visitation from 10:30-11am. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the West Virginia Wesleyan College Scholarship Fund, C/O The Advancement Office, 59 College Ave, Buckhannon, WV 26201 .