Ron Crocker

   Ronald Wayne “Ron” Crocker, 74, 114 Willey Lane, Gatesville, NC, died Friday, December 22, 2023 in Sentara Obici Hospital, Suffolk, VA.

   Mr. Crocker was born in Suffolk on October 30, 1949 and was the son of the late Willie Harvey and Lovie Hattie Lewis Crocker. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Mildred and Linda; and by his brother, William.

   A 1968 graduate of Windsor (Virginia) High School, he had served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era. He retired from ATC Panels (formerly a department at Union Camp/International Paper) as a Stores Tech/Buyer after 36 years of employment. A longtime member of Hobbsville Baptist Church where as health permitted he was active on various committees, more recently he had attended Eure Baptist Church, and felt blessed to have had two loving church families. Many will remember Ron for his earlier years of actively playing both softball and basketball, and later working as a referee at both the Franklin, VA YMCA and at church basketball games through the Chowan Baptist Association.

   Surviving is his wife of over 21 years, Marinda Blanchard Crocker (her son, Kevin Eure of Kissimmee, FL); two daughters, Stephanie Edwards (husband, Bobby) of Smithfield, VA and Jennifer Osterhoudt (husband, David) of Grovetown, GA; a son, Stephen Crocker of Martinez, GA; six grandchildren; extended family from both the Crocker and Blanchard families; and many friends.

   Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 27th, at 2:00 p.m. in Hobbsville Baptist Church and will be conducted by Pastors Tim Dannelly and Wayne Proctor. The burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family in the social hall immediately following the graveside rites, or all other times at the residence.

   In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Lions Medical Eye Bank & Research Center of Eastern Virginia, 600 Gresham Drive, Norfolk, VA 23507, (whose work was especially appreciated by Ron as he had been legally blind since 2012); or to Tri-County Animal Shelter, 138 Icaria Road, Tyner, NC 27980.

   Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main Street, Gatesville, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.