Lyons,

Mr. Roger D. Crews, U.S. Army Retired, died Friday, October 14, 2016, in the Community Hospice House in Vidalia, after an extended illness.  He was a native of Jacksonville, Florida, and began his military career there in 1956.  He became a Ranger with the 101st Army Airborne Division, and was credited with more than thirteen hundred jumps.  He served four tours of duty in Vietnam, and was the recipient of the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation, Purple Heart with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one Silver Service Star, and two Bronze Service Stars.  Also, he was the recipient of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Gallantry Cross, Senior Parachutist Badge and the Presidential Unit Citation.  Later, he served in the Middle East and throughout Europe.  Before his retirement in 1980, he taught survival training for two years at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.  For the past sixteen years, he was self-employed, and operated a pilot vehicle for oversize loads.  He attended the Olney Primitive Baptist Church in Oak Park.  He was preceded in death by his parents, John Samuel Crews and Stella Estelle Bradley Crews; and two brothers and three sisters.

Mr. Crews is survived by his wife, Margaret Burton Crews of Lyons; six children, Debra Crews of Pennsylvania, Rhonda Martin of Greer, South Carolina, Steve Burton and wife Kathy of Lyons, Tony Burton and wife Donna of Vidalia, Vic Burton and wife Vanessa of Uvalda, and Sandra Burton Salbaum and husband Werner of Wellford, South Carolina; four siblings, Woody Crews and Lou Strickland of Waycross, James H. Crews and wife Linda of Blackshear, and Voncile Ryals and husband Bobby of Callahan, Florida; fifteen grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held Tuesday, October 18th at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Elder Bill Durrence officiating.  Full Military Honors will follow.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday evening from 6:00 until 8:00.

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