"Pop" Crowe was born on 15 Sep 1899 in Cannelton, Perry
County, Indiana, to Charles C. and Ida Mae (Gray)
Crow [1].
His family bounced around in rented homes to Perry County (1900
Census[2]),
Spencer County (1910 Census[3],
and Posey County (1920 Census[4]).
On 31 Dec 1917, he traveled roughly 50 miles to Princeton
(Gibson County), Indiana, and enlisted in the Army National
Guard [5] and
presumably served in France during World War I. I don't know yet
when he was discharged, but he is listed with his family on the
1920 Census at 502
Third Street, Mt. Vernon, Indiana.[4]
He finally put down some roots in Indianapolis (Marion
County) in September 1920, when he married Lucile Francis Stiker
(1900-1969)[6],
daughter of Eugene F. and Jeannette C. (Heerdink) Stiker. They
lived at 1637 Raymond Street in Indianapolis on the 1930
Census[7].
Unfortunately, the house has since been demolished, as it appears
as a grassy lot on GoogleMaps.
They had four children between November 1921 and December 1926, the
third being my grandmother (names and other information withheld
for privacy as most of them are still alive).
In 1936, Pop Crowe filled out his SS-5 to receive his social
security number[8]. At that time,
he was living at 2435
S. State Ave., Indianapolis. He was working for
Continental Baking Company (Wonder Bread Bakery) at 339 E. Market
Street, Indianapolis. Apparently, the bakery building has since
made way for a parking lot. I sent an inquiry to the company (now
Interstate Brands) to see if they might have an old photo of the
bakery. They do not.
In 1939, he went to work for the Allison Division of General
Motors as an engine inspector and retired from there 25 years later
in 1964 [9]. He
passed away on 19 Sep 1971, at the age of 72, from respiratory and
cardiac arrest resulting from a cerebral vascular accident
(stroke). He also was diabetic. At the time of his death, he lived
at 35 W. Pleasant Run Parkway South,
Indianapolis [10].
His son, Harold Jr. ("Bud") was the informant on his death
certificate, as "Mom" Crowe had predeceased him in 1969. Pop
Crowe is buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in
Indianapolis [11].