Carl Franklin Crownover was born November 13, 1933 in Meeker Okla., the youngest of three siblings. He enjoyed growing up on a farm and in his later years loved showing off the drawing he made of the old homestead, which he later had painted. He was proud of his humble upbringing, and marveled at what his parents were able to accomplish with what little they had. After graduating high school, he attended Central State University, and during that time he met the love of his life Rita Jo Baldwin. The house he was renting had a piano and he decided to learn how to play. A classmate knew that Rita was teaching piano lessons and Carl became her student. They were married eight months after they met, at the home of her parents in Cordell, Okla.
Rita got a teaching position in Norman, Okla., so they moved there and Carl transferred to the University of Oklahoma. While at OU studying Chemical Engineering, Carl met two people he would later credit with much of his success in life - John Powers, with whom he authored a published paper, titled “The Effect of Column Length in Thermogravitational Thermal Diffusion Columns,” and Professor Cheddy Slipsovich, who was then Chairman of the Engineering Department.
After graduation, Cheddy hired him to be a research assistant on a project in Lake Charles, La. The project, funded by a consortium of oil companies, was to research using liquified natural gas as fuel.
It was in Lake Charles that Rita and Carl’s daughter Carla was born. After that project ended, the family spent a couple of years in Clear Lake City, then the family relocated to Corpus Christi. When Rita overheard at the beauty shop, that a local petroleum, gas and water analytical laboratory, serving the oil and gas industry, was for sale, Carl, who was then working at Coastal States Refinery, jumped at the chance and purchased Jordan Labs and began his new career. At the time of purchase, the lab was not profitable, but over the years he was able to grow the lab into a thriving business, with at times, up to 30 employees. He took an interest in computer programming and wrote the programs the lab used for years. The Lab brought him great joy and he counted many employees and clients as personal friends for the rest of his life.
Having the need to efficiently procure samples from Port Lavaca, allowed Carl to pursue a long time desire to become a pilot. He bought his first plane, a Piper 4 seater, and got his pilot’s license, insisting that Rita and Carla also take flying lessons, in case they needed to land the plane in an emergency. He eventually upgraded to a Piper Cherokee Six and flew the family on some wonderful adventures. While he loved flying, when the family was aboard he often opted to have his dear friend Ken Bailey do the flying, while he copiloted.
Rita and Carl’s 44 years in Corpus Christi were filled with lots of hard work, dear friends, supper clubs, entertaining clients, deep sea fishing, hurricanes and celebrating employee birthdays at Water Street Oyster Bar.
Carl sold the lab and retired in 2007 and he and Rita moved to Austin to be closer to Carla. After Rita’s death in 2015, Carl lived alone for a couple of years with Carla nearby, until a health crisis precipitated a move to Westminster Manor, where he lived the rest of his days, with the nurturing care of the amazing staff there. He was able to meet some like-minded professional men, with whom he dined daily, often ordering rounds of ice cream for the “men’s table.” Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred
Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Leon, his brother Glendon, wife Rita Jo, son John David and many friends.He is survived by his beloved sister Betty Harper, and her children and grandchildren, extended family, and by his daughter Carla. A private memorial service will be had at a later
A private memorial service will be had at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Austin, to whom the family will be eternally grateful for their caring support, or to the Alzheimer’s Association.