A New Windsor resident known for operating several popular Galesburg-area restaurants and ice cream shops has died.
Rita Crawford, who owned owned and operated Flavor Freeze in Galesburg for more than 36 years and also ran Tastee Freeze in Knoxville and Rita’s Drive-In in Galesburg, died Jan 22 in at her home in New Windsor. She was 86.
Born Feb. 21, 1938, in Nürburg, Germany, she moved from Germany to the United States, where she became a U.S. citizen.
Her obituary notes she was “a hard worker with a sharp business mind,” adding, “During her time in Galesburg, Rita made a lasting impact on countless lives, whether it was helping people find an affordable place to live or offering them a job at the Flavor Freeze. Many of her friends even remember her as a ‘second mother.’”
A visitation for Rita Crawford will be held 10-11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 4, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services, Galesburg Chapel. A memorial service will follow at 11:30 a.m.
