Pearl Marie Crowder

Pearl Marie Short Crowder, age 84, passed away on July 5, 2014, at Blue Ridge Hospice Inpatient Care Center in Winchester, Virginia.

Family night will be Wednesday July 9, 2014 from 6-8 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home. The funeral will be held at First Baptist Church on Thursday at 2 p.m. with interment at Prospect Hill Cemetery.

Pearl was born in Bedford County, Virginia to the late Charles H. Short and Nina Atkins Short.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her two brothers, Herman Short and Leonard Ray Short.

She is survived by her husband, Ashby Calvin Crowder and two sons, Richard Ashby Crowder and wife Donna, and James Warner Crowder and wife Linda both of Front Royal, Virginia. Also surviving are two grandsons, Bradley Warner Crowder of Springfield, Virginia and Jacob Wade Crowder of Front Royal, Virginia. One granddaughter survives, being Stephanie Nicole Crowder Ford of Front Royal, Virginia and a great-granddaughter, Emma Lynn Ford. Step grandchildren are Brian Cook and Ashleigh Cook North; and step great-grandchildren, Isabella Jaymes North, Bailee Michelle Cook, and Hunter Logan Cook.

Pearl graduated from Botetourt County High School in Fincastle. She married Ashby Crowder on November 18, 1950. She worked for a general practitioner in Fincastle and when Ashby returned from military service and became a Virginia State Trooper they lived on assignment in Green County before moving to Front Royal in 1961. Together they built their home on Rivermont Drive where they resided from 1961 to the present.

She was appointed as the first female member of the Warren County School Board and served for eleven years. She and Ashby were leaders of the Rivermont 4-H Club. She has been an active member of First Baptist Church in many capacities including; Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Outreach Community Chair, Memorial Committee, children's activities, and co-chair of Baptist Friends Together which is a monthly lunch program shared with the community.

Pearl was a member of the South River Garden Club and Rivermont Extension Homemakers/ Friends. She participated with Bennett's Chapel quilters on Wednesdays, and was currently a member of Valley Glasshoppers, being a collector of open salt cellars. Pearl was for many years the Welcome Wagon Hostess in our community and worked with Century 21 as a realtor with Campbell Realty, Inc. She assisted part time with Riddleberger and Carter Oil Company, Shen-Valley Auction Company, as well as Silk Mill Sales Room.

Needless to say, in addition to her family, she leaves a wide scope of friends who will remember her fondly and will miss her for the many hours of joy she shared.

Pallbearers are Bradley Crowder, Jacob Crowder, Lloyd Crowder, Claude Short, Wendell Hatcher, Stewart Burke, and Benji Haney.

Honorary pallbearers are Stephanie Crowder Ford, Adele Hatcher, Janice Eshelman, and Caroline Haney.

Memorial contributions can be made to First Baptist Church, 14 West First Street, Front Royal, Virginia 22630.

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