Virginia Crabtree

Virginia M. Crabtree (Lane) October 15, 1946 – January 19, 2017 (age 70) Virginia M. Crabtree, 70, of Linden, Indiana passed away on January 19, 2017 at the IU Arnett Hospital in Lafayette following surgery to repair a broken hip suffered on Friday, January 13, 2017. She had been a resident of the Heritage Healthcare Center in West Lafayette since August 2016. She was born Virginia May Lane on October 15, 1946 to Forrest and Frances Lane of Crawfordsville. On September 5, 1967, she married David L. Crabtree and the couple made their first home in Linden, Indiana, later residing in Springhill, Louisiana, Hawkinsville, Georgia and Shafter, California before returning to Linden in 1992. Virginia graduated from Crawfordsville High School in 1964 where she enjoyed singing in the choir and playing piano in church and at school functions. She was a grand-daughter of Reverend John L. Servies and his wife Mamie (Stout) Servies whose families had been early pioneer settlers of the Black Creek Valley area of Montgomery County, including Revolutionary War veteran Alexander Foster, buried at the Indian Creek Hill Cemetery in New Market, Indiana. Throughout the years, Virginia worked in many capacities: seamstress and pattern-maker, marketing and salesperson and prior to her retirement, as director of development for the American Red Cross in Crawfordsville, Indiana. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, crochet and crafts, cooking and collecting recipes, and was an avid gardener who grew an abundance of flowers, vegetables and fruit trees. During her lifetime, Virginia loved to travel and had visited the entire contiguous United States consisting of 48 adjoining states and Washington D.C., exploring many American landmarks and national parks with her husband and family. Virginia’s passion in life was her family, of which she devoted much care, concern and affection. She is survived by her beloved husband, David, 74, and her four children: Elizabeth Renee of Barrington, Rhode Island, Stephen (Karin) of Cary, Illinois, Travis of Rockford, Illinois and Casey (Heather) of Linden, Indiana. In addition, Virginia is also survived by seven grandchildren: Matthew (Mary Beth), Michelle (Adam), Tessa (Josh), Candyse, Shawn, Aaron and Savanah, as well as by seven great grandchildren: Matthew Jr., Logan, Rilee, Zoey, Marie, Bentley and Ryker. Virginia was a lover of animals and cherished her childhood memories of the family farmlands and cared deeply for her Japanese Chin, Koji-Lee, and grand-dogs, Lily Mae, Clara Belle, Denver Max, Princess, Biscuit and Beans. Virginia desired to be cremated and her ashes spread by her family amongst gardens of wildflowers and off the coast of New England. In lieu of a funeral or memorial service, her family will plan a summer reunion in August 2017, which will include a celebration of life remembrance in her honor. For more information on the reunion, please contact Elizabeth “Renee” Crabtree at CrabtreeCousinsandKin@gmail.com. Hahn-Groeber Funeral Home, Lafayette is caring for the family. Please visit www.hahngroeberfunderalhome.com to leave an online condolence or memory. Cards and letters may be mailed to the family at 221 S. Harvey Street, Linden, IN 47955.