Edith Crute

Edith Long Crute, age 79, of Christiansburg, Virginia, died on February 10, 2014, at Friendship Health and Rehab Center, after a long, hard-fought, and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.
She was born on April 30, 1934, in Halifax County, Virginia, to the late Willard Campbell Long, Sr. and Elsie Hudgins Long. Edith graduated in 1952 from C. H. Friend High School in South Boston, Virginia.

On September 13, 1952, Edith married the “love of her life”, Beverly Bransford “B.B.” Crute, whom she affectionately referred to more recently as “her sailor boy” (he was a U.S. Navy Veteran). He predeceased her on June 14, 2011. In addition to her parents and husband, Edith was predeceased by one brother, Willard Campbell “Bill” Long, Jr.; and her beloved cat, “Buster”.
Edith is survived by two daughters, Mona Jean Crute of Christiansburg, VA and Kathy C. Hill (Jeff); two grandchildren, Jennifer H. Reilly (Chris) and Steven R. Hill; two great-grandchildren, Liam J. Reilly and Collin J. Reilly, all of Wallingford, Connecticut; two sisters, Betty L. Whitaker (Walter) of Raleigh, NC, and Linda L. Martin (Wayne) of Danville, VA; one paternal aunt, Ernestine L. Garrett of Farmville, VA; three sisters-in-law, Jane C. Turner of Oxford, NC, Alice C. Glass of Walstonburg, NC, and Nannie C. Weaver of Richmond, VA; and one brother-in-law, C. Samuel “Sammie” Crute of Hurdle Mills, NC; as well as many special nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and her husband’s beloved dog, “Missy”.

Edith worked outside of her home for many years prior to and after becoming a full-time wife, mother and homemaker. She was truly a “professional home engineer”. Edith enjoyed cooking for family and friends, sewing, collecting Boyd’s bears, flower and vegetable gardening, shopping, and yard sales (usually one of the first to arrive—often times with flashlight in hand). She enjoyed sharing her “found treasures” with family and friends. Edith was talented in many ways, including decorating her home with her yard sale finds, flower arranging, refinishing furniture, painting, wallpapering, and most anything she set her mind on doing. In her “spare time”, she was known to play a few practical jokes on family and friends.

Christmas was her favorite time of the year, as she enjoyed endless hours of decorating her home, shopping, and baking all kinds of goodies for family and friends. When visiting her parents during the Christmas holidays, family members would always be anticipating Edith’s arrival knowing she would bring enough food to feed an army...such “sweet memories”!

Edith, you will always be dearly loved and missed by your family and friends. You will live on forever in our hearts and memories. May you now rest in peace in the “Arms of the Angels.”

The family will receive friends on Monday, February 17, 2014, from 1-2 p.m. at Horne Funeral Home with the funeral service to follow at 2 p.m. in the Chapel with Rev. Doug Kanney officiating. Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Christiansburg.

Expressions of sympathy may be made with cards, prayers, flowers (Gates Flowers & Gifts, Christiansburg, VA (540-382-2939) or a donation in Edith’s memory to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, Southwest VA Chapter, 3175 Hales Ford Road, Moneta, VA 24121.