Richard Crowder

Waynesville, NC - Richard ("Rick") Joseph Crowder, Jr. entered eternal life on Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, after a brief illness of metastatic melanoma. At the time of his death, Rick was surrounded by his family, who loved him with deep devotion. As the son of a United Methodist minister, Rick lived in many places including Charlotte, Boone, High Point and Gastonia. With his winsome personality, his extensive athletic abilities and his love for music and sports, Rick made friends easily and brought joy and hope wherever he went. Throughout his life, Rick and his family spent summers at Lake Junaluska, NC where he worked as a lifeguard and tennis instructor. The community of Lake Junaluska has been a significant part of Rick's life and a source of enjoyment at every stage; it was a beautiful gift that he lived the last four years of his life there. While a student at Guilford College, Rick was in a tragic car accident that left him with head injuries and partial paralysis. He worked hard to relearn how to walk, speak, read and write, and he lived the rest of his life with a spirit free from bitterness and filled with a deep gratitude for every day. He offered his love, encouragement, tenacious spirit, hugs and laughter to all he met. His genuine love for life and appreciation for those around him was contagious, making him a hero and inspiration to so many. Rick was a staff member at the winery at Biltmore Estates, offering tours and working in retail sales, earning Employee of the Month several times. While working at Biltmore, Rick met the love of his life, Franny, and they were married in June of 2013. Franny and Rick lived every day to the fullest, filling their time together with laughter and joyful companionship. In addition to his job, Rick spent many hours making music with the church choirs at Central UMC in Asheville, at First UMC in Waynesville, and in the Asheville Choral Society, Waynesville Community Chorus and the Durham Choral Society. With his gorgeous baritone voice and love of all things musical, Rick was a valued member of each group. Besides music, Rick loved Duke Basketball, dancing to beach music, eating lunch at Apollo Flame, getting everywhere a few minutes early and doing his Christmas shopping in August. Rick is survived by his wife, Franny, his son Jonathan Crowder(Hickory, NC), his parents Rev. Richard and Mrs. Barbara Lowe Crowder(Asheville, NC), sister Rev. Ashley Crowder Stanley and husband Dr. Thomas Stanley (Asheville, NC) , sister Lynn Crowder Greer and husband Hal Greer (Richmond, VA), nieces Laura Stanley, Catherine Stanley Ray and husband Andrew Ray, Julia Greer and nephews Jake Stanley, Will Greer and Ben Greer along with many cousins, aunts and uncles who loved him dearly. Rick spread light wherever he went. His life and light will be celebrated on Saturday, December 3rd at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville, NC with the receiving of friends to follow in the gathering place in the narthex of the sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to The Lake Junaluska Assembly, PO Box 67, Lake Junaluska, NC, 28745.

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