WILLIAM CRUTCHER

ARCOLA- A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, south of Arcola, for William Lucian Crutcher, 83, Arcola, who died Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon.

Arrangements are under the direction of Konantz Warden Funeral Home, Lamar.

The obituary may be viewed and condolences sent online at www.konantzwarden.com.

Survivors include his wife, Donna; a son, Buster Crutcher and wife Shannon, Joplin; a daughter, Afton McGuire and husband Kim, Lockwood; five grandchildren, Sydney Cunningham and husband Drew, Oletha Hope Crutcher, Josiah McGuire and wife Amanda, Kelby McGuire and wife Petra and Micah McGuire; four great-grandchildren, Konner, Kellen and Grayden McGuire and Zoey Cunningham; a brother, Bobby Edward Crutcher; a nephew, Brian Crutcher and two nieces, Rhonda and Debbie.

Mr. Crutcher was born March 18, 1934, in Arcola, to Ernest “Buster” and Oletha (Brickey) Crutcher. After high school he joined the Marines and served until 1962. Upon discharge he found work in California with the telephone company and his brother, Bobby, came to work with him. Wanting to get closer to home he came back to Kansas City and worked for the railroad with a dream of saving up to buy a farm back in Arcola. It was Kansas City that he met Donna Gail Elvy. They were married in Neola on March 15, 1959. Soon after they bought a farm previously owned by his family.

His expertise was dairy cattle. He was innovative and very knowledgable in his field. He was a long time member of the Arcola Christian Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher and as an Elder. He was also on the Greenfield Board of Education for many years.