Published: October 07, 2008 11:22 pm         

Jesse T. Crowder Jr. [Mt. Dora]

MT. DORA, Fla. — Jesse Thomas Crowder Jr., of Mt. Dora, passed away at the age of 84 on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008, in the presence of his wife of 61 1/2 years, Grace E. (Dieter) Crowder. He had lived in Central Florida since his retirement from the A.S. Abell Co. (former owner of the Baltimore Sun) in 1985, spending 19 years in Belle Isle living across the street from his daughter’s family as she reared her three children.

He is also survived by his brother, Harold Crowder of Mt. Airy, Md.; children, Wayne L. Crowder, M.D., of Frederick, Md., JT Crowder III of Orlando, and Wesley Crowder of Gettysburg, Pa.; grandchildren, Caryn (Bott) Gantz of Eustis, Christy (Crowder) Stein of Woodbine, Md., Becky (Bott) Postlewait of Vancouver, BC, Charity (Crowder )Haines and Charles, Chelsey and Colyn Crowder of Frederick, Sam Bott of Canton, Mich., Clinton Crowder, M.D. of Minneapolis, Samantha, Cassandra and David Crowder of Gettysburg, Benjamin Crowder of Orlando; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Jesse was born on Dec. 24, 1923, in Artemas, Bedford Co., Pa., and became the first in his family to graduate from high school, in 1942, before serving in the U.S. Coast Guard during 1943-46. Then, with the help of the GI Bill of Rights and the inspiration of an admiral with whom he came to work closely during the War, he achieved a bachelor of science degree in accounting and then passed the CPA exam.

Success in his professional life — Jesse retired as senior vice president/finance—facilitated greater involvement in two passions, Christian education and farming. From the latter, he obtained the satisfaction of renewing memories of his childhood, but the former provided a return that we can never measure. A firm but committed Christian husband, father and grandfather, Jesse would fully endorse the family’s invitation to every well-wisher to present gifts in lieu of flowers to the Fairview Christian Church, Artemas, PA 17211 or Asbury College’s new ACHIEVE Program in Orlando. Gifts marked for the Crowder Memorial Fund may be sent to Asbury College, 1 Maclem Drive, Wilmore, KY 40390.

A viewing is in store from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Fairview Church, (Inglesmith, PA on MapQuest!!), with a funeral service at 1 p.m. followed by the interment with military honors. Brunch and dinner will be provided.

Arrangements are in the hands of Grove Funeral Home, Hancock, MD 21750.