Carl Crews Obituary

Lt Col Carl Bobbitt

Crews, USAF, (Ret.)

January 26, 1931

October 3, 2021



Carl B. Crews, USAF (Ret), born January 26, 1931, in Oil City, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2021. He was 90 years old.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Bailey and Mary Lucy Bobbitt Crews; siblings Norma Tunstell, Joe Crews, and Betty Speake; and daughter, Kara Crews.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, Ann Crews; son Carl B. (Beth) Crews, Jr.; four grandsons, Aaron (Olivia), Austin (Keli), Andrew (Dani) Crews, and Jesse Pueschel; two granddaughters, Kodi (Zac) Stoller, and Bonnie Pueschel; Four great grandchildren, Jackson, Kenny, Rylee Crews, and Noah Stoller.

Carl graduated from Fox High School in 1948 and attended the University of Oklahoma for two years. After winning the outstanding ROTC drill cadet award, he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. There he excelled in academics and was an outstanding athlete in boxing and football. He won the eastern intercollegiate boxing championship at middle weight. Carl graduated from USMA in 1954 with a BS in Engineering and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He was immediately asked to be a part of the boxing and self-defense programs at the United States Air Force Academy in 1959, establishing protocols for Cadet athletic instruction.

Upon his commissioning, he attended pilot training at Hondo Air Force Base in Texas. He specialized in fixed wing aircraft to include the T-6, C-124, T-33, A-37 fighter and helicopters H-19, H-21, CH-47 and the CH-53 Jolly Green Giant. In 1968, Carl began the first of his three tours of duty in Vietnam as a combat pilot. He was a highly decorated command pilot in Special Operations, accumulating over 5000 flying hours in diverse aircraft. For his selfless acts of heroism, bravery, courage, and valor, he was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Seven Devices, Meritorious Service Metal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leave Clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with One Device, and numerous decorations for his outstanding service to our country.

After his retirement from the Air Force in 1980, he was a realtor in Oklahoma and Hawaii. Colorado became his home and he love the community of Colorado Springs, the mountains, and his family. Carl enjoyed spending time snow skiing, hiking and camping in the Rocky Mountains. He volunteered teaching water aerobics at the Peterson AFB Aquatics Center for over twenty years. The "Water Buddies" were his special group. He was a member of the Village Seven Presbyterian Church and enjoyed watching his grandsons play team sports while at ECA.

Graveside Service with military honors in celebration of Carl's life will be held, 10:30AM, Wednesday, October 27, 2021, United States Air Force Academy Cemetery, Parade Loop, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80840.

He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend, touching lives and inspiring all who he came in contact.