Mrs. Virginia R. Crouch, age 94, of Maroa, widow of Dr. Rolla M. Crouch (Bob), who preceded her in death in 1988, passed away on November 12, 2018, at Hickory Point Christian Village in Forsyth, Illinois. She was born in Ogemaw, Arkansas in the southwest corner of the state near Camden on March 6, 1924, the daughter of James Andrew and Lois Julia Short Holt, and was a direct descendant of John Mendenhall, who immigrated to Philadelphia from Mendenhall, England in 1683.
She met her future husband in the early days of WWII at Grider Field in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where Bob had arrived for pilot training and she had taken a position repairing the exteriors of the training planes after graduation from high school. They were married in Pine Bluff on December 2, 1943.
In 1950, they moved to Maroa after Bob graduated from Loyola Dental School and joined his father, Dr. R. O. Crouch, in his dental practice which dated to 1902 when the senior Dr. Crouch graduated from the Chicago School of Dental Surgery, the predecessor of Loyola.
They were the parents of James R. Crouch, retired Architectural Engineer of Chicago; Robert S. Crouch (Mary Kay), retired US Air Force, of Woodland Park, CO; and Carol Ann Schlitt (Glennon), retired U. of I. Extension and president of her own firms, Safe and Savory Solutions, Inc. and Brookstone Tours, LLC of Freeburg, IL.
Grandchildren include Brian P. Schlitt of Belleville, IL; Kevin A. Schlitt of Portland, OR, Kimberly M. Newcom (Jarrod) of Woodland Park, CO; and Robert S. Crouch, Jr. (Karina) of Ft. Collins, CO. Great-grandchildren include Makayla, Levi, Cole, and Eden Newcom, all of Woodland Park, CO and Navah Joy Crouch of Ft. Collins, CO. She was preceded in death by her grandson Brian Schlitt in 2017, who was in law school at Washington University at the time.
Surviving brothers are James R. Holt of Success, MO; and Ronald G. Holt of Decatur. She was preceded in death by sisters Hyldred M. Saubert of Tulsa, OK and Barbara A. Burnett of Anaheim Hills, CA, and brother Wayne D. Holt of Camden, AR
Mrs. Crouch was a member of the Maroa United Methodist Church where she was actively involved for over 50 years as a primary Sunday School teacher, chair of the Memorials Committee and Funeral Dinners. She was a charter member of the Maroa Woman’s Club and served as president twice as well as many other leadership positions in the club.
Virginia, or Ginny as she was known to her close friends, loved to play bridge and was a member of two bridge clubs for over 50 years. She also loved gardening and was known for years for her beautiful flowers that adorned the front of her home.
She was blessed to have a wonderful caregiver, Mrs. Kathy Schlag, and the family is thankful to Kathy for the love, compassion, and expert assistance she provided during the last 12 years of her life.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 19, 2018, at 11 AM at the Maroa United Methodist Church, 202 N Walnut Street, Maroa with the Rev. Mary Alice Cunnigham and Rev. David Gaffron officiating. Burial will follow at the Maroa Township Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 9:00 AM until the time of service at the church. Calvert Funeral Home, Maroa, IL is in charge of arrangements.
The Crouch family would like to extend our gratitude to all the staff at the Hickory Point Christian Village in Forsyth and Decatur Memorial Hospice for their attentiveness and loving care.
Memorials may be made in Virginia’s name to the Maroa United Methodist Church or to the Alzheimer’s Association.
