Emma Lou Crosby Friedrick, 94 of Greenwood, passed away on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. She was born on April 10, 1927 in Wakita, OK to the late George and Anna Crosby. Lou was the oldest of seven children, she left school in the 10th grade to support her Mom and siblings. Her first job was in 1942 as a travel assistant and a waitress at the Greyhound Bus Station in Clinton, OK. Lou remembered the GI’s with their wives and children coming to town. She lived across the street at the Calmez Hotel, where the bathroom was down the hall with a bare light bulb on. One day a week, Lou had to clean the bathroom. She later waitressed at the B&M Café until she met Gil. She met him through a cousin. Gil and Lou were married on January 21, 1951, they moved to California and lived in an A frame house, situated in a pear orchard near Danville, CA. They moved back to Arkansas in 1966.
Lou loved sewing, flower arranging and yard work, she sewed Muumuu dresses for friends, guessing about 100 of them while in Clinton. She made 100’s of doll clothes for the Salvation Army, sewed countless dresses for friends. She enjoyed classical music. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Greenwood.
She is survived by two brothers, Bill Don Crosby of Fresno, CA and Jack Doyle Crosby of Madera, CA and her caregiver and friend, Teri Peek of Greenwood. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert C. Friedrick; a sister, Barbara Elaine Gentle; three brothers, Charles Wayne Fisher, Jerry Richard Crosby and Robert Lee Crosby.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Danny Egbert, Glenn Fleer, Austin Fleer, Perry Goines, Joe Blair, Gary Peek and Terry Hovater.
Family will greet friends from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home. Funeral Service will be 11:00 A.M. Wednesday at Grace Lutheran Church. Interment of ashes will be 10:00 A.M. Monday, August 9, 2021 at the Fort Smith National Cemetery. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 18218 Hwy 71 South, Greenwood, AR 72936 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or go to www.stjude.org
