Gladys Crawford

Born December 28, 1927, in San Salvador, El Salvador, and passed away peacefully on August 4, 2025, in Dixon, California.

Gladys is the loving mother to her children Michael Frank (Sharlene) and Marjorie Frank (Mason Donaldson); grandchildren Michael Frank Jr., Zachary Arguello (Karen), Marisa Frank (Ernesto Martinez); and great-grandchild Elisabella Frank.

At 97.5 years old, Gladys lived a very long, extremely interesting, and fulfilling life. She had a blessed childhood in her native country of El Salvador. Her grandfather, Dr. Jose Francisco Arriola, was a lawyer, a coffee plantation owner, held the position of “Minister of War” and Ambassador to Guatemala under the administration of General Don Francisco Menendez, and worked in the Diplomatic Corp in the field of Literature. He provided his children and grandchildren with an education and cultural exposure that was not afforded to many. Gladys valued the positive influences from both her grandfather and mother, which developed her faith in God, respect toward others, and nurtured her poise and etiquette. In her teens, Gladys represented Guatemala in a beauty pageant. Something she was very proud of.

After her grandfather passed away, Gladys and her mother moved to San Francisco, California, where other relatives had already settled. During this time, Gladys met and married her first husband, Atilio Arguello, who was also from El Salvador and attending the University of San Francisco. After their marriage they moved back to El Salvador, where her son Michael was born. Soon after, circumstances led Gladys, Michael, and her mother to return to San Francisco. Gladys quickly immersed herself in American culture by joining the workforce and becoming a US citizen.

While working in San Francisco, Gladys met Jack Frank, her second husband, and together they had daughter, Marjorie. During their 17-year marriage Gladys was devoted to her children’s well-being, their higher education and numerous activities, in addition to starting a career in the insurance field in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Gladys took a promotion to help open an insurance branch office in Woodland, California, seeking better advancement and ways to support her family. She worked as an insurance policy writer for 12 years before retiring. She met her third husband, Carl Crawford, and moved to Dixon, California, in 1983, where she has lived the remainder of her life. Gladys and Carl were married for 24 years until his passing.

Gladys could not sit idle. Throughout her life, she gave so much to others – to her family, her church, her community, and to her friends. She volunteered with several organizations, including serving as a Sutter Davis Hospital Foundation Board Trustee, Sutter Davis Hospital Auxiliary President and committee chair, and contributing to the Davis Senior Center, Dixon Women’s Improvement Club, and Dixon Red Hatters.

Pursuing her passion for travel, in her retirement, Gladys completed course work and was able to seek employment at Winter’s Travel Agency. Her reward for these efforts allowed her to travel the world, which she loved. Her favorite was cruising. Enjoying no less than 17 voyages. In her spare time, Gladys enjoyed crocheting, painting ceramics, and arranging flowers. She often shared her beautiful creations as gifts to many. She also loved music, dancing, a good party, a tasty margarita, and all things colored red.

Gladys converted from Catholicism to the Lutheran faith in the mid-1960s and joined several congregations during her life. Her final and longest affiliation was with Davis Lutheran Church, where she was an active member and held various positions. The strength of her faith was never shaken all the way to her final communion the day before her passing.

Gladys was unbelievably generous, thoughtful, unselfish and vibrant. She loved telling her life stories, and those who heard them gained from the experience. She is loved and will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, Teresa Arriola and Joaquin Miranda; her husband, Carlos “Carl” Crawford; her second husband, Jacques “Jack” Frank; and her first husband, Atilio Arguello.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Davis Lutheran Church: Gladys Crawford Memorial Fund are respectfully requested, in accordance with Gladys’ wishes.

Memorial Service and Reception: Sunday, August 24, 2:00 PM, Davis Lutheran Church, 317 E. 8th Street, Davis, CA

Private Family Internment: Italian Cemetery, Colma, CA