Longtime Seattleite and South Whidbey Island resident, L.B. Crowder, 86, died peacefully April 24, 2004, following an 18-month battle with recurring cancer. He was born June 8, 1917 and was raised in Seattle and Keyport.

Mr. Crowder was a member of the Ballard High School class of 1935, and later earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Washington and St. Mary’s Academy.

During World War II, he was trained as a Navy fighter pilot, and served in the Atlantic Naval Fleet as a blimp squadron commander. In 1943, he was reassigned to the Pacific fleet and was commanding officer aboard a naval escort, and the ranking officer in charge of air reconnaissance and underwater detection. He witnessed the devastation at Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II. Following the Japanese surrender, he was the first naval officer to enter Japan to arrange and watch over the release of U.S. prisoners of war.

Mr. Crowder was a lifelong Republican, and ran for election to the Seattle City Council. A successful businessman, he owned Day & Night Fuel Co. and later was a partner in the Seattle real estate firm of Crooks & Crowder. He was a member of the American Legion Post 141, the VFW Post 7482, the Holmes Harbor Rod & Gun Club, and the Ballard High School Golden Beavers.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia Crowder Goodin, his second wife, Sharon, and son Morgan Crowder. He is survived by daughter Kristen Yale of Clinton; sons Duffy Crowder of Clinton, and Wm. Rory Crowder and wife Shannon of Malibu, Calif.; and grandchildren Peter, Erin, Richard and Angel Allender, and Logan Crowder.

A memorial gathering will be held on May 1 at 3 p.m. at the American Legion Post 141 in Langley. Friends are invited to attend.