John E. Crosby Jr.

John E. Crosby, Jr. went to be with the Lord on January 16, 2016. His legacy of patriotism, helping others through volunteer activities, Boy Scouts of America and love of the grape growing industry was unprecedented. John was born to Norine Brown Crosby and John E. Crosby, Sr. in Austin, Texas on March 16, 1919. He married the love of his life, Mary Louise Davis, on May 17, 1941 in Austin. His parents, brothers, Dick and James, sister, Pauline, and son, Steven Davis, and wife, Mary, preceded him in death. He became an Eagle Scout in Troop 9, Austin, Texas at the age of 17 and had a long history of supporting the Boy Scouts of America, first as Cubmaster then as Scoutmaster of the Rotary Club Troop 9, and received the Silver Beaver Award for exceptional character and distinguished service. John worked for Lyndon Johnson in the National Youth Administration as a photographer, completing pictures for the director, and developing a scrapbook of pictures for presentation to Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt. In 1939, he joined the Texas National Guard and was inducted into the 111th Quartermaster Regiment, Company C stationed at Camp Bowie in Brownwood, Texas. He proposed, developed and shot a motion picture for moving the 45th Division from Oklahoma to Camp Bowie Brownwood. On release from the military in 1945, John started Crosby Reproduction Company in San Angelo, Texas. John and his family moved to Midland in 1957, where he joined Lindley Latham in The Southwestern Geophysical Company and organized the Graphic Arts Division of the company. He acted as Vice President and territory salesman of the Graphic Arts Division, and purchased the Southwestern Company, Inc. in 1972. In 1975, John and other grape growers in Texas established the Texas Grape Growers Association. In 1990, he was named President Emeritus of the Association. After being successfully treated at The Allison Cancer Center in 1989, John later became a volunteer at the Center with over 20,000 hours of service. He was a 1997 Coping Magazine Hero Award Finalist for his tireless efforts, support of others, and sharing of himself. The Gifts of Hope and Allison Cancer Center honored John with the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2015. John organized Midland's First Annual Flag Retirement Ceremony in 1999 with the help of Mayor Bobby Burns, The Midland Reporter-Telegram and the Buffalo Trail Council Boy Scouts of America. Over 2,500 tattered, torn, and worn out United States, Texas, and MIA Flags have been retired with dignity and honor. John was a member of the First Baptist Church in Midland for 58 years. For five years, he conducted the Jail Ministry at the Midland Courthouse. He was a member of the Samuel Department at First Baptist Church and served as a Church Greeter on Sunday mornings. He is survived by his son, John E. Crosby, III and wife Patty; daughter, Susan Smith and husband Walter; five grandchildren, Amy Stroup and husband Jon, John Michael Crosby and wife Laurie, Brandon Smith, Catheryn Aguirre and husband Fernando, Cynthia Witt and husband Colin; and 13 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel of First Baptist Church on Saturday, January 23, 2016. In lieu of flowers, you may honor John's memory, with a contribution to Gifts of Hope, P.O. Box 1323, Midland, Texas 79702 or the Allison Cancer Center, 400 N. Garfield Street #100, Midland, Texas 79701. He loved to tell anyone who would listen, "They do good things for lots of people." Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.