Dr. Charles H. "Chic" Crothers

CROTHERS, Dr. Charles H. "Chic" Dr. Charles H. "Chic" Crothers, 88, of Van Buren, IN and Sebring, FL, and formerly of New Britain, Kensington, and Middletown, passed away of cancer (January 10, 2009) in his home in Van Buren, with his wife Elissa Doyle Crothers by his side. Dr. Crothers practiced pediatric medicine in Connecticut for more than 40 years. Born in Philadelphia, PA in 1920, son of the late George and Edith Crothers, he grew up in Springfield, PA. In high school, he was elected to the Philadelphia Schoolboy Hall of Fame for Baseball. A National Honor Society member, he was class valedictorian when he graduated at age 16. In 1936 he received a scholarship to attend Swarthmore College in PA. As Captain of the soccer team and the team's high scorer during his senior year, he was named "All American." After earning his B.A. in 1940, he stayed another year to study the sciences in preparation for medical school, paying for that year by coaching Swarthmore's basketball, baseball, and soccer teams. In 1941 he was the first Swarthmore graduate to be admitted to Yale Medical School, and in 1943 he married Maynette Reid. They were married for 54 years and raised three children in Connecticut, Diane, Nancy, and Jeff. Mrs. Crothers died in 1997. Dr. Crothers completed his internship and residency at Yale and graduated second in his class in 1944. He served in the U.S. Army in the Philippines, returning to Yale-New Haven Hospital in 1948 where he was Chief Resident and Assistant Professor in Pediatrics. In 1952 he began private practice at Grove Hill Clinic in New Britain. He also served as Senior Attending Physician at New Britain General Hospital. He developed an extended family of two generations of patients. He loved his patients, and they returned the favor. He retired in 1986. In 2001 he married Elissa Doyle of Van Buren, whom he met at the golf club to which they both belonged in Sebring, FL. He was a member of the First Church of Christ, Congregational of New Britain, and active in the Central Christian Church in Van Buren, where he sang in the choir and played piano. In addition to his wife Elissa, he leaves his daughters, Diane Crothers and her son Tobias Crothers Patterson, both of New York City, NY, Nancy Crothers and her son Cole Crothers-Petta, both of Vienna, VA; his son Jeff Crothers and his wife Debra Devins of Winchester, his stepdaughter Nicole Shipp and her husband Mitchel, and their son Blake of Indianapolis, IN; his stepson, Scott Rifner and his wife Donna of New Castle, IN; and many other relatives. He was predeceased by two sisters, Evelyn and Lorraine. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Jan. 24th at 1:30 p.m. in Central Christian Church, Van Buren. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Church. Ferguson & Glancy Funeral Home, Van Buren, IN has care of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the Hepatitis Foundation International or Central Christian Church, P.O. Box 412, Van Buren, IN 46991. Online condolences may be made at www. glancyfuneralhomes.com.