Elizabeth Craig Crawford Uhlman peacefully passed away on October 9, 2024 in Gahanna Ohio. She was born August 6, 1926 in Troy, Ohio to Ruth Frisbie Crawford and Dr. Porter James Crawford. Elizabeth’s parents were quite adventurous and traveled to Brazil with her and her two older brothers prior to Elizabeth’s second birthday. The Crawford family lived in various Brazilian cities for six years and then moved to Baltimore, MD for a year before venturing south again, this time to Panama and eventually Cuba. After graduation from high school in Havana, Liz attended Swarthmore College near Philadelphia, PA. She graduated in 1947 and was hired to teach elementary students at Maumee Valley Country Day School in Toledo.
Liz married Fred Uhlman, Jr. in Bowling Green, Ohio on July 6, 1949. The couple made their home in Bowling Green where they raised their four children. They can attest that she was the best mama bear ever, always fiercely protective, full of wisdom and unwavering love. Jane (Sean) Maxfield, Bill (Rachel Westlake) Uhlman, Betsy (John Brittan) Uhlman, and Jim (Susan) Uhlman survive to cherish her memory. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Anne, Mary, Emily, Briar, Rebecca, JB, Grace, Andrew, and Jack as well as seven precious great grandchildren, dear nieces and nephews, and many friends. Everyone who knew Liz was blessed by her kindness and compassionate spirit.
Liz not only poured her life into her family and friends, but also into the Bowling Green community at large. She was very civic minded and belonged to the Children Conservation League and Sorosis. She served on the Wood County Health Planning Association board, Northwest Ohio Health Planning Association board, Home Health Advisory board, and volunteered for the American Cancer Society, Red Cross, and Meals on Wheels. She cared about good government and volunteered for local, state, and national candidates and campaigned for school levies. Liz initiated and organized The lnternational Visitors Host Committee for foreign students at Bowling Green State University and hosted many international students in her home. Her main focus, however, was her church where she taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school, sang in the choir, served as an elder, and performed many other acts of service. Additionally, she served on the Presbyterian Mission Review Board as a representative of her local church.
After Fred retired, he and Liz began to travel far and wide. The visited six continents and renewed acquaintances with some of their BGSU international students. The spent a portion of every winter on Sanibel Island in Florida, where they hosted their children and grandchildren each Christmas. Many summers, Fred and Liz even chose to vacation with the same group of energetic youngsters. After Fred passed away in 2010, Liz began to slow down a little bit but still continued her Sanibel winters, hosting her family there and in Bowling Green. When COVID struck in March 2020, she entered Sunrise Senior Living Residence in Gahanna to be closer to the Jays, as Fred called their and youngest children.
The Jays and the Bees thank the employees of Sunrise of Gahanna for the excellent care that they provided Liz in her waning days. Special thanks go to Debbie, Deborah, Kathy, Belay, Yolanda, the concierge crew, and of course David Dusseau with his sidekicks Buddy and Maggie. Suncrest Hospice also deserves special mention.
To honor Elizabeth’s life, donations may be made to an organization very dear to her heart: Cherry Street Mission Ministries, 1501 Monroe St. Toledo, Ohio 43604.
Visitation will be held on Friday October 18, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Dunn Funeral Home, 408 W. Wooster St. Bowling Green, Ohio 43402. The funeral service will be held on Saturday October 19, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 126 S. Church St. Bowling Green, Ohio 43402. Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Bowling Green. The services will be officiated by a close family friend, Reverend Greer Imbrie, Jr. of Princeton, New Jersey.
