John Henry Crockett Jr.

1947 - 2025

John Henry Crockett, Jr.

October 6, 1947 - August 17, 2025

John Henry Crockett, Jr. died peacefully on August 17, 2025, aged 77. A beloved husband, father, brother, and teacher, John's life was marked by his dedication to family and to lifelong learning. John will be remembered for his intellectual curiosity, his dry wit, and his quiet loyalty to loved ones.

John was born and grew up in Wythe County, VA, the son of the late John "Jack" and Mary Whitman Crockett, where his family has deep roots, stretching back for more than 275 years. He graduated from George Wythe High School with the class of 1966.

John then joined the incoming class of 1970 at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA, and graduated with a major in economics. Next, he was off to Chapel Hill to enroll in the doctoral program in economics at the University of North Carolina.

In 1974, John accepted the offer of a position as an assistant professor at the University of Houston, followed by 11 years as a faculty member there. For two of those years, he was on leave, working as an economist with a US government agency in Washington.

In addition to the professional benefits, the leave positioned him to meet Kathleen Hilker, the young woman who was to become his wife. They met in Wytheville, where Kathleen was employed as a claims agent with State Farm Insurance. The couple were married in Charlottesville, Kathleen's hometown, in July 1982.

After three years in Houston, John joined the faculty at George Mason University in Fairfax in 1985. Both Fairfax and George Mason proved to be wonderful choices, allowing him and Kathleen to be closer to family and friends in Virginia and marking the beginning of a rewarding, decades-long career teaching at GMU.

Their family situation took wonderful turns with the births of their children, Martha in 1989 and Will in 1991. John was a committed father, taking great interest and pride in supporting their success. Martha recently finished a doctorate program at the College of William & Mary and has settled in West Point, VA, and Will works for a public relations firm in Washington, DC.

John is survived by his wife, Kathleen; his children, Martha Crockett (Roy) and Will Crockett (Ariana); his siblings, Sid Crockett (Nancy), Pat Hurst (Kenny), and Rose Carrier, along with their respective families. He leaves behind a legacy of devotion to family, friendships, and his ancestral home of Wythe County.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff at Commonwealth Senior Living in Radford, as well as the Medi Hospice Team, who cared for John with such warmth, kindness, and dignity. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Crockett's Cove Presbyterian Church, C/O Susan Pollard: 730 Mountain View Drive, Wytheville, VA 24382.

Funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Grubb Funeral Home Chapel conducted by Reverend Derek Cowan; interment will follow in the Crockett's Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 12 p.m. until service time. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.grubbfuneralhome.com.

Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Grubb Funeral Home

215 S. 6th St. Wytheville, VA 24382