Obituary of Edna Goodman Crute

Edna Goodman Crute, age 91, a native of Houston, Texas and longtime resident of Norfolk, slipped quietly into eternity on Thursday, July 7, 2011, at Halquist Memorial in Arlington, VA. She will be interred at First Lutheran Church on Colley Avenue in Norfolk following the memorial service at the church on Tuesday, July 12 at 2:00 PM. Her niece, The Rev. Dr. Jean Bozeman will be officiating. Edna was born July 17, 1919. Throughout her life, Edna’s faith guided her commitment to her profession, her church and her family. During her thirty years as the first Director of Volunteers at DePaul Hospital, she was the first recipient of the G. Neil Karn Award for Volunteer Administration. She was a member of the Tidewater Council of Directors of Hospital Volunteer Services and a founding Auxiliary Board member of Lake Taylor Hospital. Her community involvement included a lifetime membership and past presidency of Soroptimist International of Norfolk-Virginia Beach, the Suburban Women’s Club, the Norfolk Story League, and a Hampton Roads Naval Museum docent. First Lutheran Church is where she was confirmed, married, and reared her family. She served on the Church Council, as Sunday School Superintendent and other church ministries. She and her husband were also instrumental in the founding of St. John Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Edna was the daughter of Francis Gideon Goodman and Sarah Wise Goodman Davis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Arthur Crute and her son, Dr. James Arthur Crute. She is survived by her daughter, Frances (Susie) Hardwick and family in Herndon; her son, Joseph Allen Crute and family in Virginia Beach. Her family includes seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to The Jean Bozeman Christian Foundation Endowment Fund, supporting programs for Faith formation within the Virginia Synod, ELCA @ P.O. Box 70, Salem, VA 24153.