Quirky Los Angeles figure, Abel Crawford prided himself as being a loner. According to the March 18, 1923 Los Angeles Times, the only friend he had in the whole world was the tombstone that he had erected at Angelus Rosedale Cemetery. He purchased the plot in 1911 for $135, and a month later paid $2000 to have the large monument built. He paid $10. to have his name and date of birth inscribed. Every week, for 11 years, he paid a weekly visit to his future resting place, sitting quietly, gazing upon it, reading and enjoying the peace and quiet. He would polish its glistening sides and nap in its shadow. He had no friends or relatives, and the only person he ever spoke to was the caretaker of Rosedale Cemetery, Mr. Von Der Loho.
A few years before his death, he visited Pierce Brothers mortuary and picked out one of the best coffins they had. He had a steel vault installed under his tombstone, surrounded by a concrete one. All that it needed was him.
On the 8th of March, 1923, Abel was admitted to the County Hospital and died on March 14th. He was 88 years old. The Times wrote: "No funeral services will accompany his burial of the old man. His casket is to be lowered into the grave without any ceremony of any kind and without any witnesses other than the grave diggers. It is the fulfillment of his own desires."
A few years before his death, he visited Pierce Brothers mortuary and picked out one of the best coffins they had. He had a steel vault installed under his tombstone, surrounded by a concrete one. All that it needed was him.
On the 8th of March, 1923, Abel was admitted to the County Hospital and died on March 14th. He was 88 years old. The Times wrote: "No funeral services will accompany his burial of the old man. His casket is to be lowered into the grave without any ceremony of any kind and without any witnesses other than the grave diggers. It is the fulfillment of his own desires."
Quirky Los Angeles figure, Abel Crawford prided himself as being a loner. According to the March 18, 1923 Los Angeles Times, the only friend he had in the whole world was the tombstone that he had erected at Angelus Rosedale Cemetery. He purchased the plot in 1911 for $135, and a month later paid $2000 to have the large monument built. He paid $10. to have his name and date of birth inscribed. Every week, for 11 years, he paid a weekly visit to his future resting place, sitting quietly, gazing upon it, reading and enjoying the peace and quiet. He would polish its glistening sides and nap in its shadow. He had no friends or relatives, and the only person he ever spoke to was the caretaker of Rosedale Cemetery, Mr. Von Der Loho.
A few years before his death, he visited Pierce Brothers mortuary and picked out one of the best coffins they had. He had a steel vault installed under his tombstone, surrounded by a concrete one. All that it needed was him.
On the 8th of March, 1923, Abel was admitted to the County Hospital and died on March 14th. He was 88 years old. The Times wrote: "No funeral services will accompany his burial of the old man. His casket is to be lowered into the grave without any ceremony of any kind and without any witnesses other than the grave diggers. It is the fulfillment of his own desires."
A few years before his death, he visited Pierce Brothers mortuary and picked out one of the best coffins they had. He had a steel vault installed under his tombstone, surrounded by a concrete one. All that it needed was him.
On the 8th of March, 1923, Abel was admitted to the County Hospital and died on March 14th. He was 88 years old. The Times wrote: "No funeral services will accompany his burial of the old man. His casket is to be lowered into the grave without any ceremony of any kind and without any witnesses other than the grave diggers. It is the fulfillment of his own desires."
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