H. Jean Crouch

Henrietta Jean Wombles Crouch, 85, passed away March 9, 2006 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka.

Born to Walter E. and Hilda H. Kistler Wombles on March 17, 1920. Jean attended Warrensburg High School in Warrensburg, MO. where she met her first husband, John B. Peterman. He died of a brain tumor when their infant son, John, was eighteen months old in 1942.

While an employee of Trans World Airlines, Jean met and married Harry Carlson, a pilot, in April of 1944. He died eighteen days later in a plane crash in Loathe, KS.

Widowed twice by the age of 25, Jean chose to attend St. Luke's School of Nursing in Kansas City, MO. There she met and married William H. Crouch, Jr., a medical school resident.

Jean and Bill moved to Topeka in 1951 where Dr. Crouch built a 35-year pediatric practice. He preceded her in death in January of 2002.

Mrs. Crouch was active with the Florence Crittenden Home, the Kansas Medical Sociaty Auxiliary, the March of Dimes, and the Mother of Twins Club. She started the Genetic Counseling Center with Dr. John Gray and continued her work with the center for over five years.

Mrs. Crouch was selected as the Kansas Mother of the Year in 1981 and was subsequently selected as the National Mother of the Year by the American Mother's Association in May of that same year.

Mrs. Crouch is survived by sons John, Columbia, MO; Michael, Norwalk, Ct; Steven, Topeka, KS; and Timothy, Independence, Mo.; daughters Patricia Magerkurth, Evergreen, CO; Margaret(Peggy)White Plains, NY; Kathleen Howell, Overland Park, KS; and Amy Crouch-Rhodes, Goddard, KS; 26 grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.

Mrs. Crouch will lie in state after 2:00 pm, Sunday March 12 at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel where the family will greet friends fron 5-7:00 pm that evening. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, March 13 at First Presbyterian Church, 817 SW. Harrison in Topeka.

Memorial contributions may be made to Brewster Place Emploee Emergency Fund, 1205 SW. 29th St, Topeka, KS 66611, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 2909 SW. Plass Ct., Topeka, KS. 66611, Midland Hospice Care, 200 SW. Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS. 66606 or to Fisrt Presbyterian Church, Children/Youth Ministries, 817 SW. Harrison, Topeka,KS. 66612.