Orvel Calhoun Crowder
1917-2004
[need photo]
Obituary For Orvel C. Crowder
Dr. Orvel Calhoun Crowder, 86, 193 Old Milligan Highway, Bishop Farm, Johnson City, TN died Thursday, February 19, 2004 at his residence. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA to the late Orvel Wendell and Mary Etta Calhoun Crowder and had lived in the Milligan Community since 1957. Dr. Crowder was the grandson of the late Dr. Hall Laurie Calhoun of Nashville, who was an eminent scholar, educator and theologian.
Dr. Crowder received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and Latin from Hiram College, his Master of Arts Degree in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Cincinnati, his Doctor of Divinity from Atlanta Christian College and the Doctrate in Sacred Theology from Harvard Divinity School, at which time he was selected as a honor student of Dr. Paul Johannes Tillich, Theological Scholar. Dr. Crowder also completed two years of post-graduate work in clinical psychology at the University of Tennessee.
Dr. Crowder served as the Minister of First Christian Church in Columbus, MS prior to serving as a Signal Corps Chaplain (Captain) in the Southern Pacific Ocean areas during World War II. Following his service time Dr. Crowder was appointed President of Atlanta Christian College, Atlanta, GA. During his tenure with Atlanta Christian College Dr. Crowder was the youngest college President in the United States. In 1955 he served as the Minister of Bethany Congregational Church in Quincy, MA and Resident Director of Packard Manse, an Ecumenical Study Center for students and faculty of New England colleges while he was a student at Harvard. Dr. Crowder taught at Milligan College from 1957-1982, serving as Professor of Psychology and Chairman of Social Sciences. During his tenure at Milligan College, Dr. Crowder organized and coached a successful wrestling team for ten years. No stranger to wrestling, his personal accolades included the following: placed second in the Ohio WMCA Open Wrestling Championship in 1940, Hawaiian Territorial Champion in 1945, Southern Pacific Armed Forces Champion also in 1945 and while a student at Harvard, placed second in the New England AAU Open in 1957.
Dr. Crowder served as Senior Minister of Hopwood Memorial Christian Church, Milligan College from 1957-1982 and was the Chaplain at Phillips University, Enid, OK from 1982- 1984. Dr. Crowder was a practicing clinical psychologist for over fifty years, specializing in both adult and child psychology. Dr. Crowder was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Spruce Pine, NC and attended Downtown Christian Church, Johnson City, TN.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna May McConnell Crowder and a sister Mary Margaret Berry. Survivors include his brother, Hall Calhoun Crowder, Waynesboro, GA; several nieces and nephews, a special friend, Anne Elizabeth Bishop, of the home; caring and loving neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Arthur Bageant, Dr. and Mrs. Robert Ralph Botkin and family, Lexington, KY and his beloved Milligan College Wrestling Team members. Funeral service for Dr. Orvel Calhoun Crowder will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, February 22, 2004 in the Downtown Christian Church, Johnson City with Dr. Robert Ralph Botkin, Dr. Jess W. Johnson and Dr. W. Edward Fine officiating. Music will be under the direction of Dr. David C. Runner. Interment will follow the service in Milligan College Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Calvin Lester Wilson Jr., Carl Papa Jr., Dr. John Donald Boyd, Dr. Tom Kim, Hall Wendell Crowder and James Allen Bishop. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. David W. Jones, Chester A. Bageant, Anthony Mario Farrace, Rex Wayne Jackson and Dr. William Hinton Cook. The family will receive friends at Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 21, 2004 or at the residence, 193 Old Milligan Highway, Johnson City, TN at any time. Memorials to those who desire may be made to the Dr. Orvel Calhoun Crowder Scholarship Fund at Milligan College, P.O. Box 9, Milligan College, TN 37682. On line condolences may be sent to the family through our website at www.hathawaypercy.com. ARRANGEMENTS ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF HATHAWAY-PERCY FUNERAL HOME
-https://www.hathawaypercy.com/obituaries/DrOrvelCalhoun-Crowder-109213/#!/TributeWall
Directions To Grave
In East Tennessee, take I-24 and head south of Johnson City, Tennessee. Take Hwy. 359/Milligan Hwy. Enter the campus on Blowers Blvd. Take the 3rd right and park somewhere. Head toward the rear and you'll see Williams Cemetery Also known as Milligan College Cemetery. It is located between the Baker Faculty Office Center and the tennis courts.
GPS Location
36°17'54.0"N 82°17'44.1"W
or D.d. 36.298319, -82.295588
Dr. Orvel Calhoun Crowder
Capt US Army
November 25, 1917
February 19, 2004
Chaplain
Anna May M Crowder
November 2, 1916
May 3, 2001
Photos Taken 04.19.2021
Webpage produced 12.27.2022
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com
Special Recognition: C. Wayne Kilpatrick and Tom Childers traveled with your webeditor to East Tennessee to locate the final resting place of A. A. Ferguson. Many thanks to all. Some of the photos on this page were taken by Tom. Also, I should remember a kind lady whose name I can not recall who was visiting the cemetery the day we were there. She was most friendly and most helpful. She had grown up around the college and had been connected with someone in its faculty. When we arrived, we were only looking for the graves of Samuel Shelburne and A. A. Ferguson. When we told her what we were doing, she proceeded to show us a few other graves of special people in the cemetery. One was that of Dr. Orvel C. Crowder, and others—former presidents, teachers and dignitaries of Milligan College. So, many, many thanks to that kind lady.