John Crutcher

1916 - 2017

John William Crutcher

December 19, 1916 - March 12, 2017

Jefferson

John William Crutcher was born in Ensign, Kansas on December 19, 1916 to Otto W. Crutcher and Orpha French Crutcher. On Sunday, March 12, 2017, he departed his century of life peacefully in his beloved North Carolina home. He was a graduate of Hutchinson Community College and the University of Kansas. John Crutcher's many years of public service ranged from teaching a one room school on the prairie to a seat in the Kansas Senate, and two terms as Kansas Lt. Governor. In the late sixties, Mr. Crutcher moved from state government to influential appointments on the federal level. He served as Administrative Assistant to Senator Bob Dole; as an appointee to the office of Economic Opportunity; as Director of the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, Department of the Interior; and as Commissioner of Postal Rates. In World War II, he served as a Navy Officer in The Pacific Theater and Korea. Always active in Navy organizations, he retired as a Captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve. John Crutcher traveled widely and was known as a writer and lecturer on politics and cultures of other countries. After his time in Washington, he enjoyed many years of retirement in his wife's home state of North Carolina. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Edith Colvard Crutcher; step-son George Koen and his wife, Nancy; step-daughter Sandra Barrett and her husband, Dr. Bernard Barrett; four grandchildren; Ley Mitchell and her husband, Geordie, Alex Mitchell and his wife, Drewry, Valerie Pierce and her husband, Jason, and Michael Koen; twelve great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; sister-in-law Annabel Harrill and husband, Dr. Ed Harrill; and five nephews, Jeffrey Hunter and his wife, Kathy, Eric Hunter and his wife, Jocelyn, Neal Hunter and his wife, Janet, Kevin Colvard and his wife, Holly. In John Crutcher's birth family, he is survived by three nephews; Dan Rouser and Mark Crutcher of Wichita, Kansas, and Randy Thompson of Cambria, California. Mr. Crutcher was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters; Maurine Crutcher, Virginia Huey, Sally Thompson, Naomi Rouser, and one brother, Eldon Crutcher. A memorial service celebrating the life of John Crutcher will be held on Thursday, March 16, at 4:00 PM at Jefferson United Methodist Church and a reception immediately thereafter at the Club at Jefferson Landing. Remembrances may be made to The Ashe Sharing Center, P.O. Box 705, Jefferson, NC 28640 or to Jefferson United Methodist Church Food Pantry, P.O. Box 326, Jefferson, NC 28640.Words of comfort and remembrance may be viewed or sent to the family through our website at www.badgerfuneralhome.com. Badger Funeral Home of West Jefferson was entrusted with Mr. Crutcher's arrangements.