Thanks to a cousin, I have photocopies of family obituaries. One of those photocopies if the obituary for Judge Paul W. Crawford. This informative obituary highlights many aspects of Paul’s life, including his military service.

San Jose Mercury-News
Jan. 18, 1959
page [8]

17 days after retirement
Judge Paul W. Crawford Dies

Judge Paul W. Crawford died yesterday afternoon — only 17 days after retiring as judge of the Los Gatos-Saratoga-Campbell Judicial District and ending a colorful 46-year legal career.
The 69-year -old jurist died of compunctions resulting from emergency surgery. He had entered the hospital last Monday after a long series of illnesses which las year led him to seek retirement for the second time in his practice of law.
Judge Crawford and his wife, Althea, settled in Saratoga in 1947, building a home at 20800 Wardell Rd. At that time the judge had completed 30 years of legal practice in Colorado.
Admitted to the bar in 1913, Judge Crawford served as an enlisted man in the Corps of Enigneers during World War I. He returned to the colorful mining town of Leadville, Colo., after the armistice.
During World War II he served both as district attorney and as county attorney for Lake County, Colo., when both judicial officers were called into the service.
He immediately became active in Saratoga community activities. He became president of the Chamber of Commerce, directed the Saratoga Blossom Festival in 15=950 and was elected Justice of the Saratoga Township.
When the present judicial district was formed Judge Crawford ran for that office and was elected. In February, 1958, he withdrew as a candidate for re-election after a series of illnesses.
Judge Crawford also was active in American Legion from its beginning in 1919. He held several departmental offices in the group and was Grand Chef de Gare of Grand Volture of Colorado , 40 et [3].
He also was a member of the Santa Clara Valey Shrine Club.
Funeral services are pending at Pla[?] Funeral Home in [Los] Gatos

A similar obituary was found on Newspapers.com from The Los Gatos Times – Saratoga Observer.

Los Gatos Times – Saratoga Observer
19 Jan 1959
page 1
Newspapers.com

Judge Crawford succumbs

Paul W. Crawford

Death came to Judge Paul W. Crawford of Saratoga Saturday just 17 days after he retired as judge of the Los Gatos-Saratoga-Campbell Judicial District.
The 69-year-old attorney had a 46-year legal career, including 30 years in Colorado.
He died of complications resulting from emergency surgery Crawford entered the hospital Monday after a long series of illnesses.
Judge Crawford was admitted to the bar in 1913. He served as an enlisted man in

page 2
Crawford
(continued fro Page 1)
the Engineers Corps in the First World War, then returned to the mining town of Leadville, Colorado, after the armistice.
He was district attorney and county attorney for Lake County, Colorado, during World War II when both judicial officers were called into service.
Judge Crawford and his wife, Althea, came to Saratoga in 1947 to build a home at 20800 Wardell road. Crawford became president of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, directed the Saratoga Blossom Festival in 1950, and was elected Justice of Saratoga Township.
When the judicial district, which includes Los Gatos, Saratoa and Campbell was formed, Crawford was elected to the post of judge.
Because of the series of illnesses, he was not a candidate in the 1958 election. He was succeeded January 1 by R. W. Rhodes of Saratoga.
Crawford was a member of the American Legions since its formation in 1919. HE was Grand Chef de Gare of Grand Volture of Colorado, 40 et 8.
He was a member of Santa Clara Valley Shrine Club.
Private funeral services were held this afternoon at Place Funeral Home in Los Gatos.

“Judge Crawford Succumbs,” Los Gatos Times-Saratoga Observer (Los Gatos, CA), 19 January 1959, page 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 1 December 2022).