Grace Crowder

Grace Elizabeth (Dieter) Crowder, age 86, formerly of Baltimore and Mount Airy, died of complications from a stroke, on the morning of April 1, 2014, in her room in Providence Place Retirement Community, in Chambersburg, Pa.

She is survived by four children, 13 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.

She was married on April 3, 1947, although widowed since 2008.  During her 61 years of marriage, Grace raised Dr. Wayne L. Crowder, of Frederick, Md., Carolyn Bott, of Pensacola, Fl., Jesse T. Crowder, III, of Orlando, Fl., and Wesley J. Crowder, of Gettysburg, Pa., before enjoying 23 years of retirement with her husband, Jesse T. Crowder, Jr.

Throughout her adult life, Grace served as a homemaker and hostess. She was famous for her coconut cakes, which she remembered from her own mother’s baking, and for her vivacious good cheer, which lifted the spirits of people throughout the world who came to know her.

Despite her extremely modest education, which ended in the seventh grade, Grace demonstrated an interest and a commitment to higher education that was hard to match.  Her encouragement and philanthropy helped many students achieve success, that in some cases had seemed unlikely.  She was convinced by her own life, however, that dogged determination and faith in God would produce not just material success, but also contentment and the ability to help others.

A service will be held on Sunday, April 6, 2014, at 3:00 p.m., at the Fairview Christian Church, 1751 Crooked Run Road, Artemas, Pa. Burial will be in the adjoining Church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Church, on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m.

Arrangements were handled by the Grove Funeral Home, in Hancock, Md.

Online condolences will be accepted at www.grovefh.com