Virginia Frances Crouch

Virginia Frances Crouch, 103, a long time resident of Wellsville, Missouri, passed away on January 10, 2025 at The Good Shepard Community Care Center in Concordia Missouri after a brief illness. Virginia lived in Wellsville until she was 99 years old. She loved her community and all of her friends at the Wellsville United Methodist Presbyterian Church.
A Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 20, 2025 at the Wellsville United Methodist Presbyterian Church at 11 am. Visitation will precede the service from 9am-11am. Rev. Paul Catterton will officiate, and Jeane Oligschlaeger will serve as the organist.
Burial will be in the Wellsville Cemetery. Serving as Pallbearers will be; Brett Crouch, Eddie Crouch, Michael Crouch, Matthew Murtha all grandsons and Click Bishop and William Woods nephews
Mrs. Crouch was born on December 11, 1921 in Montgomery City, Missouri, daughter of Howell Bishop and Minnie Harris Bishop. On January 19, 1941 Virginia married James William (Bill) Crouch at the Christian Church in Wellsville. They observed their 67th wedding Anniversary prior to Bills death in 2008.
Virginia lived on a farm and often told people the reason she lived so long was that she was a farm girl. She had 2 sisters and a baby brother, so her father taught the girls to work the farm. She had many stories about working on the farm and riding her pony to the one room school house. She graduated from Wellsville High School in 1939.
Virginia was an excellent seamstress, she was noted for her baked goods and enjoyed making her famous butterscotch pies, divinity, and chocolate Texas sheet cake for many events held at the Wellsville United Methodist Presbyterian Church. She participated in many activities at her children's school including the Missouri School for the Deaf where two of her children were enrolled. In her later years she loved to travel. One of her favorite trips was too Alaska with her father. They visited her brother Calvin and his family. She also visited family in California, Arizona and Iowa.
In 1965 Bill and Virginia purchased the former Adams Market which became Crouch's market. Bill and Virginia continued to operate the store for the next fifteen years until Bill retired in 1980.
Virginia's faith was very important to her. She was installed and ordained as an Elder in her church March 5, 1972 and she continued in that position until she passed away.
Virginia was an 81 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She joined the Grace Chapter #323 on June 21, 1943. She received her 75 year certificate and pin on October 20, 2018. She was very proud and two of her children were able to attend that ceremony. In addition she received the prestigious Evelyn Bedell Award in recognition of her many years of faithful service to the Wellsville United Methodist Presbyterian church on June 2, 2016.
Survivors include four children and spouses, James Thomas "Tom"and Christine Crouch of Fenton Missouri. Robert "Frank" and Susan Crouch of Fenton. Linda Murtha-Mudd and Larry Mudd of Knob Noster and Polly Zoellner of California; 9 grandchildren 33 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews who have always been a very important part of her life.
Mrs. Crouch was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her 2 sisters, Barbara Fort and Mildred Fipps, her brother Calvin Bishop and her oldest grandchild Brian Crouch
Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Presbyterian Church of Wellsville Missouri. Memorials may be sent in care of Myers Funeral Home, 203 E. Bates Street, Wellsville, MO 63384.