Thomas R Crowell Jr.

Thomas Rolla Crowell, Jr. was born December 14, 1928, in Cedar Rapids, IA, the elder child of Addie Malinda Lane and Rev. Thomas Rolla Crowell, Sr. His parents divorced when Tom was 8. He and his brother Dick moved to Chicago with their mother. The boys lived in an orphanage while she worked away from home. His 3rd to 6th grade years were spent at Allendale School, Lake Villa, IL. His mother remarried and moved with the boys to Franklin Grove, IL where Tom completed grade school and began high school. Following his freshman year, Tom declared his independence and worked for a farmer in Franklin Grove for room and board while continuing to attend school. He moved with his mother and brother to Aurora and attended East Aurora High School his junior year. The next summer, his mother became very ill, so the boys went back to Franklin Grove where Tom again lived with a farm family to earn his keep while finishing high school. Tom’s mother passed away after he graduated from high school in 1947.

Tom ran cross country at Drake and Syracuse Universities before transferring to Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and starting the NIU cross country team. There he met Judy, the love of his life and completed his bachelor’s degree. In 1952, they married on March 8th and he earned his master’s degree in education.

Drafted into the US Army in July 1952, he served in Seoul, Korea as a clerk typist in a top secret unit during the Korean Conflict. After his honorable discharge from the military, Tom and Judy began their Illinois education careers. Tom taught and coached in the Odell School District and served as principal of the elementary schools in Stillman Valley. Meanwhile, he earned his Doctor of Education degree at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, by attending summer school for eight years. After he earned his doctorate, he was superintendent of Westville Elementary District, director of curriculum in Galesburg Schools, principal of an ungraded school in Wilmette, superintendent of Bushnell-Prairie City Schools and the Lena-Winslow School District from which he retired. He worked as an educational consultant and as an asbestos removal inspector/project manager in schools for several years after his retirement.

After fully retiring, Tom and Judy moved to Bloomington, IL, to be near their grandchildren. They moved to Kingwood in 2000, following Bob and his family. Tom was very active in the First Presbyterian Church of Kingwood. He sang in the church choir the past 15 years (a practice he had faithfully followed since high school days) and was a member of Kindred Spirits. He also sang in the Kingwood Chorale, including their trip to NYC to sing at Carnegie Hall. Tom has been a member of Lions Club for more than 50 years and has actively served with the Humble Noon Lions Club while living in Kingwood. He was a member of the YMCA where he exercised regularly. Tom also enjoyed playing bridge.

He and Judy traveled extensively before and after retirement. They owned travel trailers in which they had numerous family vacations and during retirement were Winter Texans in the Rio Grande Valley, eventually trading their RV for a more permanent park model. They wintered at Alamo Rose RV Resort in Alamo, TX, for 24 years where Tom participated in the church choir, the melodrama (production manager), bridge and other activities.

Tom is survived by….

Wife, Judith Panttila Crowell

Children, Elizabeth Cadwalader (Max) Boyko and Robert Lane (Dee Ann) Crowell

Grandchildren, Eric Lane Crowell and Lynsey Ann Crowell (Ben) Kerstens

Great-granddaughter, Hallie Lane Kerstens

Siblings, Richard Lane (Arlene) Crowell, William (Rita) Crowell and Ellen Crowell (Joseph) Rodeffer

Cousins, Elaine E. Lane Davis, Carol Crowell Bonde and Alice Lane (Arthur) White

Numerous nieces and nephews, their spouses and children

Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers can be made at any of the following:

First Presbyterian Church of Kingwood

5520 Kingwood Drive,

Kingwood, Texas 77345

The Dr. Thomas R. Crowell Jr. and

Mrs. Judith F. Crowell Education

Scholarship Fund at Northern Illinois University

myniu.com

Click on Donate Now, the Designate Other and specify the scholarship fund

Childrens Haven International

400 E Minnesota Road

Pharr, TX 78577

www.childrenshaven.org