The Rev. Dr. Conrad Gilbert Crow, 89, of Jonesborough, TN, died Tuesday morning at Johnson City Medical Center. He was born on the day Herbert Hoover was elected president â€" Nov. 6, 1928 â€" in Mullens, WV, the son of the late Osler Gilbert Crow and Myrtle Transeau Crow. He spent his youth in Bluefield, WV.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carolyn Curtis Crow, his daughter, Terri Crow (Hal) Knight of Jonesborough; his son, Marshall (Anne) Crow of Chesapeake, VA, four granddaughters: Jennifer Crow (Jon) Wheeler of Parkersburg, WV, Katherine Crow (Evan) Baber of Lexington, KY, Sarah Knight of Arlington, VA, and Carolyn Knight of Johnson City; nephew Bill (Shellie) Wright of Centerville, VA, and great-niece Isabelle Wright and great-nephew Benjamin Wright.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son Charles (Jennifer) Crow of Belpre, OH, and his sister, Mary Ellen (Elden) Wright of Fairfax, VA.
Services will be at 5 p.m. Saturday at Jonesborough Presbyterian Church, 128 West Main Street, Jonesborough, TN, with the Rev. Allen Huff officiating. Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at the church. Internment is planned at the Louisville Presbyterian Seminary in Kentucky at a later date.
Conrad graduated from Bluefield (WV) High School and received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University (then Alabama Polytechnic Institute). After several years working at General Electric in Pennsylvania, Vermont, Georgia, and Kentucky, he attended Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, where he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1955. He received his master’s degree in theology from Louisville and his doctorate of ministry from Harvard Divinity School.
He began his ministry in Louisville, KY, at Highland Presbyterian Church, and Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church before serving Village Chapel Presbyterian Church in Charleston, WV, and Great Bridge Presbyterian Church in Chesapeake, VA, from which he retired. After retirement, he continued to serve as Interim Minister at six Presbyterian churches in the Northeast Tennessee area. He dedicated his life working to bring people of faith together and actively engaged in the civil rights movement. To the delight of every church he served, Conrad shared his beautiful baritone voice and a deep love of music with all.
In addition to being active in the local Kiwanis Club, Conrad was an avid supporter of the International Storytelling Center of Jonesborough and regularly attended the yearly National Storytelling Festival. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to be made in Conrad’s memory to the Jonesborough Presbyterian Church (128 West Main Street, Jonesborough TN 37659) or the Louisville Seminary (1044 Alta Vista Road, Louisville Kentucky 40205)
09/11/2018
Carolyn Whitehead
I was saddened to read of the passing of Conrad (as we called
him in our class at the Wellness Center) Even though it has
been several years since I've seen him, I so remember his quiet
dignity and conduct as a gentleman. Carolyn, you may recall
we talked about our matching red shoes? My deepest
sympathy to you and your family.
08/30/2018
Don and Becky (Ross) Haddox
We had not seen Rev.Crow for many years now, but nevertheless we have many wonderful memories of him from the years that we were at Village Chapel Presbyterian. He hadn't been there very long when he married my husband Don and me, and a few years later he would come to baptize all three of our children Cliff, Craig, and Caroline. In 1976 we moved to Huntington, WV but we still came back to Village Chapel often and we would always enjoy the services that he led and being able to visit with him for a few minutes afterwards.
One of my most vivid memories of Conrad was when my father (Cliff Ross) was in the last few days of his battle with cancer. It had begun in the area of his ear and reduced his hearing to almost nothing in the last few weeks of his life. I and the rest of our family had been reduced to communicating with him by way of writing during those last few days. On the day before he died, Conrad came to visit...and began talking to my Dad in that beautiful deep (and loud) baritone voice of his, and to our great surprise, my father could hear him and began asking him all about what was going on at the church that week. They had a wonderful visit and we were so glad he had come (plus we knew from that point on that we needed to talk louder!)
So, you see, even though it has been a very long time since we saw him, we can remember so many ways in which our life was enriched by having known him...
Our deepest condolences to Carolyn and to all of his family during this time.
08/29/2018
Larry and Brenda Jones
We send our condolences to Carolyn and family, keeping all of you in
our thoughts and prayers. We were saddened to learn of Conrad's
death, a great loss for all who knew and loved him. As a young
married couple, we met Conrad when we walked down the street on a
beautiful fall Sunday morning in 1969 to attend worship at Village
Chapel. In the years that followed, Conrad baptized our three
children, visited in our home, provided spiritual guidance and made a
lasting impression on our lives. We continued to be in touch with
Conrad and Carolyn throughout the years. We especially looked
forward to receiving their annual Christmas letter that included
Conrad's personal stories and relevant spiritual insights. We are truly
thankful for the privilege of having known Conrad.
08/28/2018
Robert (Robin) W. Tull Jr.
I am saddened in learning about my friend Dr. Crow that I have so enjoyed knowing for many years. He was also a friend of my father as they attended Louisville Seminary together. My mother passed three days prior and I understand sadness of missing a parent. My condolences to Carolyn, the children, and the grandchildren. So many good memories. May God give you peace during this time. Robin Tull
08/28/2018
Dean K. Thompson, President Emeritus, Louisville Seminary
Conrad Crow was a role model and mentor for many younger ministers in the Presbytery of West Virginia, when I was a pastor in my first church in Montgomery, West Virginia. We looked up to him, and we were nurtured and guided by his strong dedication to Christ and the church, by his humility, and by his great competence as pastor, preacher, teacher, leader, and prophetic witness to justice and mercy
08/28/2018
Dean K. Thompson, President Emeritus, Louisville Seminary
Conrad Crow was a role model and mentor for many younger ministers in the Presbytery of West Virginia, when I was a pastor in my first church in Montgomery, West Virginia. We looked up to him, and we were nurtured and guided by his strong dedication to Christ and the church, by his humility, and by his great competence as pastor, preacher, teacher, leader, and prophetic witness to justice and mercy
I am so sorry to hear of Rev.
Crowe's passing. He was a wonderful
man!
08/25/2018
Sandra Caldwell Zubick
I am so sorry for your lose. I grew up in the church under Dr
Crow and your family touched my heart greatly. You were
such great friends to my parents. I find it a little emotional too
that I am now raising my family in the house you raised yours.
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
I know my parents in heaven are meeting him with open arms.
I also remember the card and pictures you sent to me when
mom passed away. So sweet and it touched my heart.
Prayers
I'm sorry to hear this. What a special, thoughtful man. I'm so glad I got
to see you all again a few moths ago. Love to all. Dave P
08/25/2018
Very Rev. Olof Scott
I was blessed to know the Rev. Conrad Crow when he was pastor of Village Chapel Presbyterian Church in Charleston, WV (Kanawha City). We concelebrated a few funerals that overlapped our congregations. May his memory be eternal, and may the Peace of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ be with his wife and family.
Very Rev. Olof Scott, Dean Emeritus
St. George Orthodox Cathedral
Lee & Court Streets
Charleston, WV
08/24/2018
Jim and Carolyn Lewis
We offer condolences to all of the family members in grateful appreciation for the life of Dr. Crow. He was a most wonderful model for Christ and served him well. We are blessed to have been a part of his Christian family at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church. We can well imagine he will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
