Rodney Marion Crowder

Rodney Marion Crowder of New Market, Virginia passed away on April 28, 2018 at the age of 78. Rodney was born in Roanoke, Virginia in 1939 to Harold Saunders Crowder and Gertrude Elizabeth (Wall) Crowder. The family moved extensively during and after the war from California to Connecticut eventually settling in Strasburg, Virginia where an athletic, outgoing young Rodney played football at Strasburg High School and fell in love with the beautiful Odessa Irene Orndorff. There remains some debate over who chose whom but they were married in 1959 and were deeply committed to one another for the next six decades until death did them part. After graduating, Rodney took a position at Massanutten Bank in Strasburg, Virginia alongside Bill Craun who together with wife Becky became Rodney’s most honored and trusted lifelong friend. After completing the American Institute ofBanking at the University of Virginia, he accepted a position with Virginia National Bank in Shenandoah Virginia and continued a long, successful career in community and commercial banking eventually rejoining Craun at Citizen’s National Bank in Shenandoah county. Throughout his career and after, Rodney held numerous leadership positions with business development and community service organizations. He possessed a strong Christian faith and spirit throughout his life and was a member of the Fairview Church of the Brethren at his passing. The couple raised four children, two boys and two girls, providing a loving and nurturing environment. Rodney taught his children to love the outdoors, to be honest, to be open to all people, and to be kind and generous to neighbors. The family had boundless fun together hunting, fishing, and traveling throughout the US. Rodney Crowder’s greatest gift was his wonderful personality and his genuine and automatic love for all people he met. Well, that and the fact that Odessa chose him. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Donald. Survivors include his wife, Odessa; sister Gayle and husband Dale Ryman; son Jeff and wife Lori, son Todd and wife Celeste, daughter Kelly and husband Rick Moomaw, and daughter Jo-Jo; granddaughters Odessa Thompson, Sarah Crowder and Melissa Collins; grandsons Dan Crowder, Jeremiah Crowder, Jed Crowder, Ashby Moomaw, David Moomaw, Michael Collins and Alex Collins; and great-grandchildren Noah Crowder, Parker Duke Crowder, Idabell Crowder on the way, Owen Thompson, Layne Thompson, and Averie Collins. Memorial donations in honor of Rodney may be made to Fairview Church of the Brethren, 484 Fairview Church Rd, Timberville VA 22853. A memorial service will be held at Fairview Church of the Brethren, 484 Fairview Church Rd, Timberville at noon on Saturday, May 5.

Rodney Marion Crowder

August 27, 1939 - April 28, 2018