R.I.P. John Campbell Crouch

A neighbor sent this in:

Oregon Hill lost a great friend in the passing of John Crouch, a descendant of John Jacob, the first known occupant of the house for whom the Jacob House at 619 W. Cary Street is named. Mr. Crouch worked tirelessly for the preservation of the house when VCU made plans to demolish the structure. Thanks to Mr. Crouch we became aware that the Jacob House was older than was previously known. The house would not have survived if not for Mr. Crouch’s hard work and advocacy. He will be missed.

Obituary, as printed in the Times Dispatch:

CROUCH, John Campbell, 93, of Richmond passed away June 16, 2012 in Front Royal, Va. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Evelyn Post Crouch; son, Robert J. Crouch of Front Royal; daughter, Mary C. MacKercher (Brian) of Warrenton; four grandchildren, Mark D. MacKercher of Washington, D.C., Brian C., Benjamin B. and Mary Elizabeth MacKercher all of Warrenton. He was preceded in death by his parents, William J. and Mary Jacob Crouch; a sister, Mary Crouch Condrey and a son, William Campbell Crouch. He graduated from John Marshall High School and the University of Richmond. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army as a Cryptographer in Company A, 3217th Signal Service Battallion assigned to the Supreme Allied Headquarters in London. He worked with the Enigma Coding Machines and decoded the surrender message from Heinrich Himmler. He was an accountant with Dupont, Inc. for 42 years at the Spruance Fiber Division. He was active in politics and historical preservation. He was an advocate in the preservation of Pelham Chapel, The Conferderate Section of Oakwood Cemetery and the Jacob House on Cary Street. (He was the great-grandson of John Jacob). He was the former Vice Chairman of the Richmond City Democratic Committee, Treasurer of the Virginia Conservative party, President of the Richmond Society of the Son’s of the American Revolution and Commander of the Lee-Jackson Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans. He ws a member of the American Legion, the Navy League and The Virginia Historical Society. He was a proud Virginian and an avid genealogist. The family will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Blileys-Central, 3801 Augusta Ave. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday at All Saints Episcopal Church, 8787 River Rd. A private graveside service will be held at Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Friends of Forest Hill Park, 951 E. Byrd St., Richmond, Va. 23225

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