Robert Ray Crews

Robert Ray “Bob” Crews
9/4/1930 - 8/26/2023
Robert Ray “Bob” Crews, 92, of Beckley, WV passed away peacefully on August 26th
in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born to C.W. and Mary
Alice Sublett Crews in Metalton, WV on September 4, 1930 and was the youngest of 6 boys.
Preceding him in death were his parents and his 5 brothers: Donald, Ronald, C.W. Jr., Carlos,
and Billie.
Remaining to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 70 years, Jessie Kessinger
Crews, 3 daughters and sons-in-law: Jennie (Penn) Martin, Sharon (Paige) Ward, and Carol
(Steve) Martin. 7 grandchildren: David (Alice) Martin, Jennifer Martin, Robbie Ward,
Bethanie (Jonathan) Dorsey, Laura (David) Sizemore, Justin (Bridgett) Martin, Ryan Martin
and 6 great grandchildren: Alexandra Martin, Madison Dorsey, Parker Dorsey, Hazel Sizemore,
Oakley Martin, and Baylor Martin.
Bob was a United States Air Force Veteran of the Korean War, serving between 1951
and 1955. He operated Crews Gulf on Eisenhower Drive from 1964 to 1977 and retired from
the Bank of Raleigh in 1996.
From the time he accepted Christ as his Savior at age 37, he was a changed man. From
that day forward, he read his Bible voraciously and took every opportunity to share the plan of
salvation with others. He loved the Lord and that was evident by the way he lived his life. There
are not words enough to adequately describe this wonderful man, but for those of us who were
privileged to have shared our lives with him, words like “faithful”, “loving”, “kind”,
“compassionate”, “responsible”, a man of integrity, and most importantly, a lover of the Lord
come readily to mind.
He loved sports, particularly college football and basketball, and was a big fan of the
West Virginia Mountaineers. He had loved the outdoors since he was a young child, roaming
the hills above his boyhood home in a coal camp at Metalton. The love of being outdoors
followed him into adulthood. You could find him happily mowing his yard and meticulously
caring for his vehicles well into his 80s. Sitting on the porch with his wife beside him on
beautiful days was a favorite pastime.
He was a man who always put everyone’s welfare above his own. He faithfully cared for
his widowed mother after his father’s death in 1977. He was devoted to his wife of 70 years,
happily sharing life with her and their 3 daughters and their families. He supported his family
members’ every endeavor and was there for every special event in their lives. No family
get-together was complete without him. He could always be counted on to make us laugh and
regale us with witty comments and funny stories. To say that everyone loved him is not an
overstatement; from members of his extended family to the CNAs and Nurses who cared for
him during his numerous hospital stays, he was loved by all.
One of his finest qualities was his humility. He appreciated anything that someone did
for him, even the smallest of things. He never sought recognition for himself, but he was so
deserving of honor, respect, love, and devotion. We, his family, would have willingly kept him
with us forever, but God chose to take him home. We will not grieve his loss as people who
have no hope because we know that we will see this Godly man again.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 29th at 1pm in Bob’s home church,
Calloway Heights Baptist Church, with the Revered Kim Kirby officiating. Burial will follow
at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.
Friends may visit with the family 2 hours before the service at the church. The family
wishes to thank Bob’s doctors: Dr. E.J. Salon, Dr. Michael Gray, Dr. Rajiv Khanna, and Dr.
Faith Payne as well as the nursing and CNA staff of Raleigh General Hospital for their
excellent and compassionate care for him during his illness.
Online expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via the Calfee
Funeral Home Guestbook at www.calfeefh.com
“He that heareth the Word and believeth on Him that sent me hath everlasting life,
and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death into life.” John 5:24