Orville Crocker

**Orville Crocker**, 84, of the Hopewell community passed away Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Mr. Crocker was born on the farm where he resided on November 6, 1919 the son of Frank and Emma Comer Crocker. He was married to June Smith on January 27, 1945 and she survives. Other survivors include one daughter, Nancy Thola of Osgood; three sons Merrill Crocker and Melvin Crocker both of Osgood, and Lee Crocker and his wife Nancy of Waverly, Ohio; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Floyd and Merrill Crocker and his sister Wilamette Crocker. Mr. Crocker was a 1936 graduate of Holton High School and had attended Hanover College on a football scholarship. He was also a farmer and along with his sons owned and operated Crocker's Christmas Tree Farm. He had worked for several years as a self-employed carpenter having built many houses in the community near his home. He also was a member of the Carpenters Local 1775 of Columbus. Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 7 at 2pm at the Hopewell Baptist Church with Rev. David Shivers officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday, November 6 from 4pm to 8pm at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles. Memorials may be given to the Hopewell building fund in care of the funeral home.