Joan Ross Crumroy

Joan Ross (Klinger) Crumroy, December 11, 1931 – December 10, 2020. A “Depression Baby,” Joan was born in Abington, Montgomery, Pennsylvania. She grew up in a small rural suburb of Philadelphia, where everyone knew everyone else. Highlights of her childhood included anything artistic.

Joan received the art award upon graduation from high school in June of 1949. She then pursued a Bachelor of Science in Art Education and for three years taught art in the elementary schools. Wanting to see other parts of the country, Joan took a job teaching art at Macomb Junior High School, Mount Clemens, Michigan. In the meantime she completed 15 graduate hours at Penn State University.

While in Michigan, Joan met and married Otto Crumroy, Jr. who was an auditor in the U. S. Air Force at nearby Selfridge Air Force Base. They were married on August 16, 1958 at North and Southampton Reformed Chuch in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The following May twin daughter Brenda (Rein) and Jenifer (Morgan) arrived, and daughter Kim (Hinton) followed in 1964.

In August 1960 they were off the Orient. Over the next 27 years she followed Otto to Air Force bases around the world, eventually retiring in Duncanville, Texas. In 2015 she and Otto relocated to Lacey, Washington. All though these years the church was the center of family activities along with camping, hiking, swimming, and touring.

During this period of moving about Joan did a variety of volunteer work: teaching Sunday school, serving on Education and Worship committees, holding offices in church women’s groups, and holding nearly every adult position in Girl Scouting. In addition she continued sewing clothing, handwork, artwork and later rug hooking and quilting.

In early 1970 Joan developed an interest in creating textiles, banners and hangings for church sanctuaries.

With Otto’s encouragement she went back to school to study liturgical art at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. There she earned a Master of Theological Studies with honors in 1987.

Joan continued creating textiles until 2001 for churches in the North Texas area, and in a total of ten states. She also made quilts, etc. for family members, led a bible study group, worked on some genealogy, and hel.ped keep the church library going. She had a very active life.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years Otto Crumroy, Jr., daughters Brenda Rein (Dan), Jenifer Morgan (Jim), Kim Hinton (Keith), 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.