Susan Crawford

Susan Lehtonen Crawford, age 68, of Youngstown, passed away on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at Hospice House. Born August 22, 1950 in New York City; she was the daughter of Emil H. and Irene (Gela) Lehtonen. She attended Canfield Public Schools and continued her education at Marietta College earning her Bachelors degree in English and a minor in Art. Susan earned her Masters degree in English at Youngstown State University, and pursued her PhD at Kent State University. She also did summer coursework at Harvard University as a Filene Fellow and at Oxford University, Worcester College, on a Carnegie Mellon Fellowship. Susan married her beloved Martin D. Crawford on September 2, 2001 at Malabar Farms in Lucas, Ohio; just like Bogey and Bacall. Susan devoted her professional life to the children of Youngstown as a master teacher of English, a speech coach, and a producer/director of plays. For many years, she was the English Department Chair and a writing judge for the YSU English Festival and Power of the Pen. She sought better working conditions for teachers through her work as a building representative for their Union. In 2003-2004, Susan was nominated for Youngstown Teacher of the Year. She was a member and past president of Delta Kappa Gamma-MU Chapter. She was active in Democratic politics. She was a member and elder at the Canfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Susan is preceded in death by her father Emil Lehtonen. Survivors include her husband Martin and his daughters: Belinda (Leonard) Reed, Tammy Crawford, and Mary Anne (Tom) Parker and their children and grandchildren; her mother, Irene Lehtonen; a sister, Lisa Gay; a brother Richard (Linda) Lehtonen; nieces and nephews: Erin (Brad) Gay Miyoshi, Gary and Zachariah Gay; much loved great niece Irene Keiko Miyoshi; cousins: Kathleen Summers, William Gela, and Christine Amos; as well as other relatives, countless good friends, and many former students and colleagues, to mourn her loss. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at 2:00PM at the Canfield Christian Church, 123 S. Broad St, Canfield, 44406 with Pastor Ben Secaur officiating; friends will be received at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made in her honor to Canfield Christian Church or Hospice of the Valley. The family wishes to extend sincere thanks to Dr. Keith Weiss, and the Oncology Staff at Cleveland Clinic, Twinsburg, for their loving care of Susan over the past few years.