CROWDER, William (Tom)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 05/06/2005 William "Tom" Crowder, 72, went to be with his Savior Sunday, April 17, 2005. He died in the University Hospital, San Antonio, Texas. Tom was born in Itawanba Co., Mississippi. He retired from the US Air Force with nearly 21 years of active duty and spent nearly 20 years in civil service in San Antonio, Texas. Since retiring in Show Low, he loved gardening and spending time with his four grandsons. He is survived by his wife of 50 years Deanna (Dee); two sons, Wm. Brian (Cheryl), Darin (Stephanie); and daughter, Jennifer (Robert) Meelkop; four grandsons Brandon and Dylan Crowder of Show Low and Joshua and Jason Meelkop of Lakeside. Also surviving are brother Doyle Ray (Elois) of Alabama and sisters Willard Marie, Wilma, Audrey, Verlon (Curtis) and Elinor all of Alabama and Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his parents Wm. Marvin and Mary R. Crowder, a brother Eldridge and an infant son. Funeral services were held at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas April 22 with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints grave side services and full military honors. A memorial service will be held in Show Low at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7 at the downtown chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Martin Mortuary of El Paso, Texas handled the arrangements.