Grady S. Crabtree

Grady Sylvester Crabtree went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 23, 2014. He passed away at the Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center, at the age of 93 years, nine months and 22 days. He was born March 1, 1921, in Madill, Oklahoma, to Gus Lee and Ida Mae (Muchmore) Crabtree. He graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1941. He was inducted into the United States Army (Air Corp) on November 7, 1942, and left from Frederick by bus on November 18, 1942, and reported to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was a glider mechanic and in numerous battles and campaigns including Sicily, Naples, Normandy (D-Day), Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe and Africa. He received the American Theater & European -African-Middle Eastern Medals, 3 Bronze Stars, 1 Silver Battle Star, a Good Conduct Medal and the Distinguished Unit Badge. He received the Peace Medal from France on the 50th anniversary of D-Day. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal from the 1102nd Army Air Forces Base Unit on October 19, 1945, at Sheppard Field, Texas. He was a 22 year veteran of the Lawton Police Department, where he served as Lieutenant and 11 years service with the Comanche County Sheriff's Department. He later served at the Police Chief at Medicine Park, Oklahoma, and also operated his own security business after retiring. He was united in marriage to Clara D. Sylvester on May 20, 2000. He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church, in Frederick. He was preceded in death by his parents; a wife: Karen Jones; a daughter: Carol Jean Crabtree; and a sister: Kitty Nadine McLain. Survivors include his wife: Clara, of the home in Frederick, Oklahoma; sons: Michael D. Crabtree, Atlanta, Georgia, Vance Freeze, Lawton, Oklahoma; step-sons: David Alger, John Alger, both of Reno, Nevada, and Andrew Alger, of Thornton, Colorado; step-daughters: Valerie Freeze, Lawton, Oklahoma, Jerrilee Alger de Geus, Woodbridge, Virginia, and Gina Alger Jarred, of Frederick, Oklahoma. Orr Gray Gish Funeral Home "Since 1905" (580) 335-2112