Martha Louise Crouch

Martha Louise Crouch, 96 of Tipton died at 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at her residence.  She was born on July 30, 1920 to George & Lillie (Weaver) Wilburn.  Louise was born, raised, and educated in Tipton County.  She married her childhood sweetheart, Guy Crouch, Jr. and they enjoyed 72 years of marriage together.

She is the mother of four children, Sherry Beach and husband Larry, Winamac, Tom Crouch and wife Betty, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Ann Swift, Tipton, and Dan Crouch and wife Jane, Lisle, Illinois.  Louise is the doting grandmother of 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Louise retired from the Tipton County Memorial Hospital after 35 years as Lab Manager.  She volunteered for Patient Services in the Oncology Department and also for the Hospital Auxiliary.  She had served as President of the Tipton County Cancer Society for five years and co-chaired the Relay for Life.  She was also Grand Marshall for the Tipton County Pork Festival in 2002.

Louise and Guy had lived all of their lives in Tipton County and had been actively engaged in farming.  Through their children they have supported many school programs, 4-H endeavors, and farm organizations.  They were very active in their church, Hazel Dell Friends.

She loved gardening, growing and arranging flowers, cooking, and reading,  She was a caring and thoughtful person who offered assistance to family and/or friends who were in need—whether it was sending a card, offering comforting words, or sending the something “special” that she had just baked.  Undoubtedly, most important to her was her family.  She dearly loved for everyone to come home and help themselves to the vegetables from the garden or fruit from the fruit trees in the orchard.  She also grew sweet corn for her family and neighbors.  She and Guy especially enjoyed raising pumpkins for the family’s “Fall Festival” in October.  The children carved pumpkins, made cider, popped popcorn over an open fire, and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. Of course, the Belgian horses were hitched to the wagon for a hay ride through the woods.

Louise was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.  She and Guy felt fortunate to have been able to raise their family in Tipton County and to have so many good friends.

Louise was preceded in death by her husband, Guy Crouch, Jr., three brothers, Harold, Ralph, and Bob Wilburn; two sisters, Thelma Trimble and Esther Castor along with one grandson.

Funeral services for Louise will be at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, March 11 at the Hazel Dell Friends Church, 4017 E.  300 N., Windfall with David Freelan presiding.  Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Tipton.  Visitation will be from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday at Young-Nichols Funeral Home, Tipton, and from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Hazel Dell Friends Church, 4017 E.  300 N., Windfall, Indiana, 46076.