Alvin Crawley, age 87, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, just three hours short of his 88th birthday, with family by his side at Celtic Hospice at Geisinger South, Wilkes-Barre, from complications following an eight-year battle with cancer.

Alvin was born on Nov. 27, 1928, to the late John and Mary (Yalch) Crawley, of Mocanaqua. He graduated from Shickshinny High School in 1950. Alvin married Eilene D. Hess in 1956 and resided in Slocum Township. He was employed as a sewing machine operator at Luzerne Outerwear, Salem Township, until 1972, and then worked as a porter at RCA, which later became Fairchild Semiconductor, Mountain Top, until his retirement in 1998.

Alvin was preceded in death by his brothers, John, Michael, George, Nicholas and Paul; and a sister, Elizabeth.

He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Eilene; sisters-in-law, Marie Lewis, of Pond Hill, Jean Hess, of Greenfield, Ind., Mary Crawley, of Detroit, Mich., Doris Crawley, of Detroit, Mich.; and many nieces and nephews.

Alvin was an active member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Pond Hill, where he previously sang in the choir and served on church council.

While Alvin never had any children of his own, he enjoyed entertaining children, and in his younger years could often be seen flying kites, rockets and airplanes with nieces and nephews. He had a way of bringing joy to everyone he met. He would frequently let his inner child out to play which was a blessing to his family and friends.

Alvin was an avid train enthusiast and enjoyed trains big and small, spending vacations on the rails with visits to the Cass Railroad in West Virginia, the Silverton-Durango Railroad in Colorado, and multiple visits to the Strasburg Railroad, Paradise. During retirement, he also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, word searches, reading, playing cards and watching western movies, as well as following the Phillies.

Alvin loved to laugh and make others laugh. He was often the life of the party, frequently telling those he loved his repertoire of jokes. His humor and playful nature will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Pond Hill, with his pastor, the Rev. Debra North, officiating. Interment will follow in Slocum Cemetery, Slocum Township. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, at Heller Funeral Home LLC, 633 E. Third St., Nescopeck, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark Lutheran Church, 285 Pond Hill Mountain Road, Wapwallopen, PA 18660, or Celtic Hospice at Geisinger South, 25 Church St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.