William Lawrence Buff Crowell II departed on his last flight April 3, 2021, California, MD. Buff s life was filled with an abundance of love for his family, friends, and country.
Buff was born on June 26, 1956 to Albert and Ellen Crowell in New York City. He grew up in Westport, CT and after graduating from Staples High School in 1974 attended Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, MA. He graduated in 1980 with a B.S. in Marine Transportation. In 1981 he married Katy L Estrange, and they would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this June 13th.
Buff was proud to be a Navy pilot. After graduating from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, he went through Navy flight training in Pensacola, FL and Corpus Christi, TX. Upon earning his Wings of Gold he went to Little Rock, AR and attained his qualifications as a C-130 Hercules pilot. Buff then travelled to NAS Barbers Point, HI in 1982 where he joined the Ironmen of VQ-3 and flew the Navy s EC-130s supporting t