Jack Earl Croskey

Born: September 11, 1916, Jefferson Township, Coshocton County, Near Warsaw, Ohio

Graduated from Bath Exempted Village School in Osborn, Ohio Clark County, 1934

Graduated from University of Cincinnati with BS in Engineering, 1938

Married to Elizabeth A. Smith, September 28, 1940

World War II veteran; served in the United States Army Air Corps, 1941-1945

“Life has been very good to me.” These are the words that Jack Croskey used to reflect upon his 100+ years. Not long before he passed away, Jack declared that, more than anything else, he believed that “family and friends” were the most important part of his life. He felt fortunate that his wife, Lib, had given him three wonderful children. His hope was that, wherever she was, she knew how much he appreciated that family.

Jack was born on September 11, 1916, in Jefferson Township, Coshocton County, near Warsaw, Ohio. He lived in Osborn, Ohio, while growing up and graduated in 1934 from Bath Exempted Village School, in what is now Fairborn, Ohio. After high school, he attended the University of Cincinnati on an ROTC scholarship, where he studied civil engineering, sang in choral groups, and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. While there, he participated in one of the nation's first co-operative education programs, and worked for the Dayton Power and Light Company when he was not attending college classes. He graduated in 1938 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. After that, he continued to work for DP&L and attended Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Ohio, where he also sang in the choir. In addition to sharpening his tenor voice there, he met Elizabeth A. (“Lib” ) Smith, a Springfield girl. They hit it off. In fact, Jack was known to hang around Springfield all day Sunday, supposedly so that he could enjoy the cold chicken suppers that Lib's mom served. Cold chicken notwithstanding, he proposed to Lib, and they were married at Westminster on September, 28, 1940.

The Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship led to military service after college. Jack joined the US Army Air Corps (which would later become the United States Air Force) and he and Lib began a trek which took them from Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey, where they could slip into Manhattan on weekends, to Seattle, San Diego, where their daughter Anne was born, Los Angeles and San Francisco. They were in San Francisco on Dec. 7, with a day pass to travel up US 1. Jack's gear was stowed aboard a troop transport and he was ready to ship out to the Philippines. The Japanese navy changed those plans at Pearl Harbor, and Jack remained stateside working with the Signal Corps, using a new invention called radar.

When the war was over, Jack was discharged from the service, and the family moved back to the Dayton area. Soon they settled in Miamisburg in a brand-new, post-war house. Not long after, sons Bill (Nancy) and Tom (Barb) were born. The Croskeys chose their house because it was within walking distance of all of their schools, and none of the kids ever needed to take a bus to school. It was also close to the various General Motors plants in nearby Moraine City and Dayton, where Jack rose to be Superintendent of Manufacturing Process for Frigidaire. Jack built an add-on garage to the house, added three bedrooms to the second story, and fixed up the basement to accommodate the growing family. He also found time to teach night school at Sinclair College, serve as president of the Miamisburg City School Board, and participate in a civic-minded organization begun by his church, Trinity, called Improving Miamisburg, through Progress, Action, and Challenge (IMPAC).

But that wasn't enough! He also was a 70 year member of the Masonic Lodge, helped found a Stock Market club, improved his bridge game, served on the Planning Commission, was president of the Trinity Church Consistory, volunteered for Meals on Wheels, was a long time Miamisburg Rotarian, serving as Secretary, and helped his kids with their homework (and paid for their college). In 1974, he retired from Frigidaire. But he could not be satisfied sitting around the house watching The Young and the Restless. Instead, he began a 22 year career as a self-employed surveyor, spending long days in the field, and checking and double checking his figures before effecting meticulous technical drawing of his surveys. It was said that he gave $1.50 worth of service for every dollar he took in. All the time, he traveled with his beloved “Ibber,” visited his children as they spread out through Ohio, enjoyed his 4 grandchildren, Matt, Abbey, Greg, and Lauren and 6 great grandchildren, Grace, Jack, Griffin, Lorelei, Lucy, and Ruby; and continued to reflect on God, the place of Jack's life in the world, and duty to his country. It was often said of him, that he was one of the kindest men people had ever known.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Tuesday December 11, 2018 in Trinity Church, 203 E. Linden Avenue, Miamisburg. Memorial service will follow at 12 p.m. with Pastor Joe Getts officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Church of Miamisburg.