Applewood Estate Resident Dies at 95

Cecelia R. Hooper Crawbuck, 95, of Freehold, died at Applewood Estates in Freehold. Born in Holmeson, she was a lifetime resident before moving to Applewood. She attended the DeBow, one room grammar school and was a 1934 graduate of Freehold High School.

Crawbuck graduated from Trenton State Teachers College, now the College of NJ, in 1937. She retired as a teacher from the Millstone Twp. School District and was an owner and operator with her husband of Crawbuck Tree Farm and served as the secretary and treasurer of Crawbuck Enterprise.

Crawbuck was the oldest member of the DeBow's United Methodist Church at Holmeson Corner in Jackson. As an active member of the church for over 82 years she served as a Sunday school teacher for 30 years and worked as the school's superintendent for 20 years.

She also served as a trustee of the church, a chairwoman of the Pastor Parish relations committee and as the church's financial secretary from 1947-1991. On Oct. 8, 2006, she was honored for 75 years of dedicated membership at a special service at "Old Home Day". Crawbuck was also an active member and volunteer in her community and in 1981 was honored as the Millstone Twp. Outstanding Woman of the year. She was a member of several organizations, which included being a charter member of the Millstone Twp. Hospital Auxiliary for Centra State Medical Center since 1965, the Millstone Twp. Senior Citizens, the Allentown Villagers and Charter Donor for the Millstone Twp. Foundation for Educational Excellence. She also volunteered for the Central Jersey United Voluntary Services for 20 years and the NJ Special Olympics.

Daughter of the late Charles E. and Phoebe A. Hooper, she was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, James J. Crawbuck in 2000 and her son, Gary James Crawbuck in 1993; Cecelia is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Charles E. and Carla Crawbuck of Jacobstown; her daughter, Cynthia A. Crawbuck of Pittsburgh, PA; five grandchildren, Marcy Kelly, Eric Crawbuck, Keely Jakubowski and Devin and Caitlin Crawbuck; eight great grandchildren, Elizabeth, Erin, Leo IV, Sydney, Christian, Penelope, Leyton and Olyn; her brother, Beekman Hooper of Burlington; a nephew, Robert D. Hooper of Upper Freehold Twp. as well as her special caregivers, Faten and Ann.

Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27 at the DeBow's United Methodist Church. The Rev. Betty Gibbons will officiate. Interment will follow in Princeton Memorial Park, Robbinsville. Friends may call Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 S. Main St., Allentown. In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution may be made in Crawbuck 's name to the DeBow's UMC, 509 Monmouth Rd., Jackson, NJ 08527.