Richard H. Crowley

BRISTOL - Richard H. "Dick" Crowley, 85, of Bristol, formerly of Mercer, Pa., died on Thursday, May 10, 2012, at Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth, after a period of declining health.

Dick was born April 19, 1927, to Woodbury E. and Laura (Thibault) Crowley in Franklin. A member of the Franklin High School class of 1945, Dick left school at the age of 17 to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard and served during the final months of World War II through 1946. While in the Coast Guard, Dick was assigned to the USCGC Tiger (WPC-152) and was stationed in the Hawaiian Islands. For his service, he was awarded the American Area and Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Ribbons and the World War II Victory Medal.

Upon his discharge from the service, Dick attended the University of New Hampshire, graduating in 1951 with a bachelor of science degree in agronomy. He then began a 32-year career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, working primarily in northern Pennsylvania. His first position was as a soil scientist in Erie, Pa., and he retired as a district conservationist in Mercer, Pa., in 1982.

During his civil service career, Dick was instrumental in planning and developing several projects including: Lake Wilhelm, Goddard Park, the McKeever Environmental Learning Center and numerous dams and flood-control systems. After retiring from the SCS, Dick became a private consultant for several years.

Dick was a past-president of the Mercer Optimist Club, Mercer Hebron Masonic Lodge, the Shenango Conservancy, the Franklin VFW and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Mercer, Pa.

Dick married the love of his life, Margaret Ann (Peggy) Stambaugh on June 8, 1956, and together they spent many enjoyable summers at the family vacation house on Newfound Lake. He was also an avid reader and a man of many talents and interests, and he especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

He is survived by his sons, David R. Crowley and wife Sue of Howard, Pa., and Daniel J. Crowley of Bristol, with whom he resided since the death of his wife. He is also survived by two grandsons, Dustin and Patrick; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy, on April 21, 2005, and his brother, Raymond, in 1996.

.

services: Visiting hours will be held today from 7 to 9 p.m., at Cunningham Funeral Home, Inc., 144 S. Pitt St., Mercer, Pa. A funeral will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, May 15, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Dr. William P. Crooks of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Mercer, Pa., officiating. Burial with military honors with the U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard will be in Millbank Cemetery, Fairview Township, Pa.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Newfound Area Nursing Association of Bristol or Speare Memorial Hospital of Plymouth.