Carol Jean Crow went home to be with her Lord and Savior on the morning of January 9, 2023. She passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 93 in Masonic Village of Lafayette Hill. She enjoyed her last years there and made many friends with both staff and fellow residents alike. All her children spent time with her during Christmas, shortly before she passed away.
Carol was born on May 31, 1929 in Buckhannon, WV to Herbert P. and Amy (Phillips) Stalnaker. She grew up in Buckhannon, WV and graduated locally from West Virginia Wesleyan College. She was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, Haught Literary Society, Choir, Betty Lamp Club, the Women’s Athlete Association, the Orchestra, and was a Majorette in the band. Carol graduated with a BA in Home Economics. While studying there, she met her future husband, Navy veteran, Edward L. Crow (Ed) “on the way to the pencil sharpener in New Testament class.”
After completing their education and marriage, they moved to Philadelphia, PA where Ed obtained his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. After his graduation from Penn, Carol and Ed had four sons, losing the first shortly after birth. They then returned to West Virginia where Ed co-founded a hardware store in Elkins and taught part-time at Davis & Elkins College. They added a daughter, Deborah, to the nest while in Elkins.
After five years, Carol and Ed returned to the Philadelphia area, settling in Lafayette Hill while he worked towards a PhD at Wharton and part-time as a marketing consultant. During Edward’s post-graduate studies, Carol worked as a Secretary in the Honors Program at Penn. Later, she worked as a private secretary and then as the Administrative Assistant in World Missions Support at the American Baptist Churches HQ in King of Prussia, from where she eventually retired.
Carol’s main passion was being a wife and mother and caring for her family. She was active within the churches the family attended. Carol also loved reading, music, counted cross-stitch and poetry. Several of her poems were published.
Several years after Ed passed away, Carol moved into the independent living area of Masonic Village. She enjoyed the many activities and friends at Masonic Village, including taking her daily “hike.” Her family visited frequently. She rooted for the Philadelphia Eagles, though remained proud of her West Virginia heritage and was a member of Buckhannon Chapter #18 of the Eastern Star.
Carol is survived by her sister, Nancy (Danny, deceased) Lantz of Davie, FL, son Wayne (Debbie) of Leola, PA, son David (Carmen) of Santiago, Dominican Republic, son Stephen (Sue) of LaVale, MD and daughter Debbie (“the original Debbie Crow”) of Washington Crossing, PA. Carol is also survived by six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Carol was predeceased by her husband, Edward, and her eldest son, Gary.
The date and location of Carol’s funeral service will be communicated to friends and family once arrangements are finalized.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield, 1710 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA 19031 or to “Friends of the Choir” in Memoriam of Carol Crow, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, 59 College Ave., Buckhannon, WV 26201 or via https://www.wvwc.edu/give/.
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