Richard Crowder Sr.

Asheville, Reverend Richard Joseph Crowder, Sr., peacefully entered eternal life on January 19 with the family he had loved and nurtured gathered around him. He was 87 years old. Coherent until his last moments, he offered words of blessing, comfort, humor and faith to those surrounding him. Richard was born and raised in High Point, North Carolina. The eighth of nine children born to Lillian and Maxey Crowder, he grew up in a loving home filled with affirmation and a belief that what mattered in life was not material possessions but rather, the richness that comes from serving others. The seeds of faith were planted deep in him by his parents and the people and pastors of his home church: Richard was baptized, confirmed, ordained, married and nurtured at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in High Point. In his retirement years, his ministry came full circle when he was privileged to serve as the Minister of Visitation for 9 years at Wesley Memorial, a job he adored. Richard was educated at Duke University (Class of 1952) and at Duke Divinity School (Class of 1955) and was ordained to full time ministry in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. His pastoral ministry included serving churches in Charlotte (St. James, Harrison, Saint Luke, Hickory Grove and First), Boone (First), High Point (First), Gastonia (First) and as the High Point District Superintendent until his retirement. He served each church with passion, dedication to the Gospel and belief in the transformative power of God's love. He loved his parishioners and offered himself unselfishly to their care. A three sport athlete in high school, Richard played baseball, football and basketball. Recruited by major universities to play football and basketball, Richard accepted a full scholarship to Duke University where he was the center on the team, beginning his lifelong love of all things Duke. While he was in Divinity School there, he helped coach the JV basketball team. At Duke, Richard was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity, The Red Friars (an honorary fraternity), and the recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award and the Robert E. Lee prize for outstanding scholastic-athletic achievement. He was also the President of his Senior Class. In summers during his teenage and college years, Richard worked at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina as a lifeguard. These years began a lasting devotion to the beauty and purpose of Lake Junaluska. Later, he and his wife built a home there in which they spent countless happy days with their children and friends. There was nowhere on earth that he loved more. Richard married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Lowe, on August 22, 1953, and together, they lived a remarkable life built on their mutual dedication to each other, family, friends, church and community. Their children, Ashley Crowder Stanley, the late Rick Crowder, and Lynn Crowder Greer, were blessed by their father's unwavering love and support. And later, with his grandchildren, Laura, Catherine and Jake Stanley, Jonathan Crowder, and Julia, Will and Ben Greer, "Poppy" once again found manifold was to teach, cajole, companion and enjoy another generation of family. Along with his wife, children, and grandchildren, he is survived by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Franny Crowder, sons-in-law Dr. Thomas Stanley and Mr. Hal Greer, grandson-in-law, Andrew Ray, soon to be grandson-in-law, Brian Pietrosimone, his sisters, Joan Christy, Mildred Little and Geneva Warren, brother-in-law, Buzz Lowe and many nephews and nieces. An advocate for affordable housing, for children, for fairness and inclusion in the church and in politics, Reverend Crowder used his gentle, compassionate spirit for good. The author of three books, Keep on Keeping On, I Believe in Music and Back to Basics and several memoirs, his writings blessed many lives. A sought-after preacher, he was happiest and most effective as he wove his powerful, persuasive sermons from pulpits in many states, touching countless lives and leading them into the presence of God's grace. Richard will be remembered as a gentle giant, a person of deep integrity, owner of wild sweaters, wearer of caps, a storyteller, an original Cameron Crazie, a protector, a meticulous organizer, a loyal friend, an encourager, the most amazing father and grandfather and someone who was deeply in love with his wife Barbara until the last moments of his life. He embraced his death as he had his life: unafraid and with an open heart filled with faith in the provision of the God who knew him, called him, and named him "beloved". Richard Crowder's life will be celebrated on Thursday, January 26th at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville, North Carolina, with the receiving of friends to follow in the Christian Life Center at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to either First United Methodist Church, 566 South Haywood Street, Waynesville, NC 28786 or Lake Junaluska Assembly, P.O. Box 67, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745.

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