Published on December 16, 2024 1:22 pm
Last Updated on December 16, 2024 1:33 pm
Walter Crowder Jr., 83, of Charleston, IL, formerly of Casey, IL, passed away Thursday December 12, 2024, at the Villas of Holly Brook in Charleston.
A Memorial Visitation will be held on Wednesday December 18, 2024, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at the Barkley Funeral Chapel in Greenup, IL. Memorial services will begin at 3:00 p.m. Military Rites will be conducted by the Clark County Veterans after the service.
Walt (Butch) was born on July 16, 1941, to Walter and Hazel (Green) Crowder, in East St. Louis, IL. He married Vicki Ann Jones on May 30, 1964.
Survivors include his loving wife Vicki of 60 years, children Joshua (Sarah) Crowder (children-Hanah, Jakob & Elaina), Kelly (Kevin) Moran (children-Kathryn & Aidan), Jason (Jill) Crowder, and Kathryn (Aaron) Partlow; sister Margaret Ann (Robert “Bud”) Swiney; and brother Gary (Diane) Crowder.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Walt was a graduate of Shelbyville High School and continued his education at Eastern Illinois University. Upon graduation with a bachelor’s degree, he worked for the Phillips Petroleum Company in Milwaukee until he was drafted into the United States Army. Walt attended Officer Candidate School and completed a combat tour in Vietnam where he received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for wounds he received in combat. After Walt was discharged from the Army as a 1st Lieutenant, he continued working for Phillips Petroleum in Chicago until he moved his family to Casey in 1972 to work for Kerr McGee. Walt was the owner of the Montgomery Ward’s Catalog Showroom in Casey, operated Sherwood Forest Campground in Martinsville with his family for 19 years, was co-owner of Bur-Cro Feed Store in Casey, and ran a hog operation for many years. At the time of his retirement, Walt was selling seed corn and beans. Walt had a tremendous sense of humor, an infectious laugh, an unparalleled work ethic, and a skill for being able to strike up a conversation with everyone he met. He was a jack of all trades, but also known for his ability to “tear anything up.” If he couldn’t find something he needed, he would build it himself, which included discovering creative ways for using duct tape. Walt served on the Casey School Board and volunteered at the Casey United Methodist Church where he was known for being the “best Sunday school teacher ever.” Walt enjoyed spending time with friends and family, often laughing while playing cards, boating and canoeing, traveling, and telling stories. His favorite pastime was enjoying the outdoors on his Martinsville property, where he loved to fish, hunt, observe wildlife, search for artifacts, and use his heavy equipment. In his later years, he would ask everyone he met if they fished and would invite them to come fishing in his pond. Walt had high expectations of his children and was extremely proud of what they accomplished as a career naval aviator and officer, two doctors (pharmacy and molecular cell biology), and a lawyer. Walt’s grandkids were everything to him and he taught them to have high expectations, never be complacent, and be the best people they could be. He exemplified this through his own action while letting them experience failure when they worked with him on the farm. In memory of Walt, who was a veteran with a love for dogs, the family has selected a military service dog philanthropy for memorials: Freedom Paws Service Dogs Foundation.
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