William James Crews "Bill", age 85, of Hawthorne, Florida passed away on Monday, May 24, 2021, in South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Georgia following an extended illness.

Bill was born on December 21, 1935, in Hamilton County, Fla. to the late Jesse James Crews and Nadine Rhoden Crews. His early years were spent in Jasper, working on the family farm and attended primary school. He learned about the value of hard work and simple pleasures, being a part of a large family with aunts, uncles, cousins, and his close family of friends. He was an excellent student, loved music, and was the president of the White Springs chapter of Future Farmers of America. Later in life, he remained an avid sportsman, who enjoyed hunting, fishing, farming, and raising sheep and chickens.

In 1955, Bill joined the United States Army, serving three tours, traveling to Hawai'i and Korea. His work in the Army Corp of Engineers on the Big Island of Hawai'i is where he met the love of his life, Gertrude Keala Nicol "Trudy". Trudy and Bill married in 1958 and they welcomed their first child, Warren James Crews the following year in Hilo. Not long afterward, the military took them to the mainland via boat to California and by car across the country. Before reaching their destination at the Red Stone Arsenal, in Huntsville, AL, their second child Tammy Deane Crews-Sutton was born in Biloxi. After reaching their destination and completing his training as an air traffic controller, Bill was transferred to Korea. Before leaving the mainland again, he moved his young family to Jasper, FL where they could be close to his family to support her while he was away, as she was expecting their youngest child Tina Dale Crews Smiley. Bill served three years in Korea before taking an honorable discharge in 1963 to move his family to Gainesville, FL.

Bill's military service as a diesel engine repairman, communications unit commander, and air traffic controller were solid experiences to prepare him for his second career with the Gainesville Police Department. At GPD, he had the opportunity to work in many capacities, beginning as a patrol officer, and advancing thru career roles in administration. His special assignments include being a member of the motorcycle patrol, the SWAT team, commander of the patrol division, captain of the detective division, and in administration as an assistant chief. At his retirement in 1986, he served again as detective division captain. During his tenure with GPD, and as a father of three, he completed his BA, summa cum laude from UCF in criminal justice and public administration, and following an exhaustive selection process, completed training in the Academy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Quantico, WV. After a year of retirement, he returned to the workforce to continue his civil service with the Internal Revenue Service for 13 years. Bill was predeceased by his wife Trudy in 2009.

Survivors include his son, Warren Crews (Elizabeth) of Hawthorne, FL; his two daughters, Tammy Crews-Sutton (Mike) of Hawthorne and Tina Crews Smiley (Harry) of Auburndale, FL; five grandchildren, Brianna and Colin Crews, Geoffrey and Zachary Winkler, and J. Chris Hamlet; also surviving are his three great-grandchildren, Chase, Karleigh, and Luna Wren.

Graveside services were held on Thursday, May 27, 2021, at Forest Meadows Cemetery at 4100 NW 39th Ave in Gainesville, FL.

Memorial contributions may be made to Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd, Gainesville, FL. 32606.