Grace M. Crumbaker

Grace Marie Crumbaker, a native of Camden, OH, died on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at the age of 90 at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, OH. She was born on March 21, 1923, the daughter of Claude Rodney and Franziska (Haug) Neff. She was preceded in death by her father in 1950; mother in 1983; husband Albert “Bud” Crumbaker in 1985; and her only brother Lee Neff of Marietta, OH in 1991. She is survived by her sons Alan (Linda) Crumbaker of West Alexandria, OH and Tom (Debra) Crumbaker of Camden, OH; daughter Nancy Ellen Snyder of Camden, OH; five grandsons Andrew (Billie) of West Alexandria, OH, Jeffery (Betsey) of Lewisburg, OH, Jeremy and Joshua of Camden, OH, and Daniel (Jennifer) of Williamsburg, OH; one great- granddaughter Gracie of Lewisburg, OH; three great- grandsons Christian, Eric, and Devin of West Alexandria, OH, along with one great- grandchild that is currently on the way; one niece Lisa (Rich) Rydarowski of Marietta, Georgia; great- nieces and great- nephews Aimee Rydarowski and John Rydarowski or Marietta, Georgia, Emily Neff of Lexington, Kentucky, and Gregory Neff of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. She attended and graduated from Camden High School in 1941 and then graduated with a one year business degree from Miami Jacobs Business College in 1942. Grace worked for Bell Telephone after graduating from Miami Jacobs Business College. She also worked for the Lowe Brothers Paint Store Company and as a payroll clerk at U.S. Signal Corps Dept. for three years. She later became the associate editor of the Preble County News in Camden, OH for ten years where she met many new friends. At the newspaper, Grace wrote her own column, “Grace Notes”, which was a way for her to enjoy writing and for others to enjoy learning about the little things that happened in the small community of Camden. During World War II, Grace wanted to help with the war effort on the home front so she joined the American Red Cross volunteers when she was asked to be the hostess at the USO organization in 1941. She later completed training to be a VA nurse’s aide. For the next two years she spent most of her Sundays as a nurse’s aide at the Dayton- Good Samaritan Hospital. Later, she found a busload of YWCA volunteers who drove to the VA Hospital to cheer the wounded soldiers. She joined them and felt that it was such a touching time to be with those who had suffered. After handing out cookies and candy and helping to write letters home, the smiling faces of those wounded could never be forgotten. Grace was glad to be able to help the wounded veterans. Years later, Grace decided to continue in her work for those who needed help as she worked for the Preble County Community Center in Eaton, OH on the “hotline”. Grace wanted all to know how she was to be remembered, as her services are to include a poem to be read at her funeral services: “Remember me with smiles and laughter Because that’s the way I’ll remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, Then don’t remember me at all.” Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at Fairmount Cemetery in Camden, OH with family and friends attending. Pastor Brady Feltz will be officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Camden’s Beautification Committee. Girton Schmidt & Boucher Gard Funeral Home, Eaton, OH is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences and other remembrances may be sent to the family by visiting www.gsbfuneralhome.com.