Obituary of Leo Frank Crouse

Mr. Leo Frank Crouse, 91, of High Street, Fort Plain, New York died, Thursday, September 2, 2010 at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown following a brief illness. Born on May 12, 1919 in the Town of Minden, he was the son of Raymond B. Crouse and Lelah Bronk Crouse, who died when Leo was a young child. He was then raised by both his father and step-mother, Hazel Harrington Crouse. Mr. Crouse was a graduate of St. Johnsville High School. He then attended Cornell University, School of Agriculture. On July 31, 1947 in Cape Charles, VA, he was married to Linda Shults. Together they celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in 1992, the same year that Mrs. Linda Crouse died. He worked on the family dairy farm with his parents in his younger years. He then served as a pilot with the US Army Air Force during World War II, serving overseas in the Philippines. Mr. Crouse was employed as a manager and instructor of aviation at the Chincoteague Seaplane base in Chincoteague, VA. He then returned to the local area where he owned and operated Crouse Farm that was located on Route 5S between Little Falls and Fort Plain from July 1949 to 1962 with his wife. In his later years, Mr. Crouse worked at the former Palatine Dye Company. Mr. Crouse was a member of the Fort Plain VFW Earl Stock Memorial Post #3275. He was an avid aviator and a great joy of his was going on the Tiger Cruise in 1984 with his son, Raymond, who was in the US Navy. In addition to his wife, Mr. Crouse was also predeceased by his older brother, Frank, who died in infancy. Mr. Crouse is survived by his daughters, Lelah Bianchi of Syracuse, NY, Mary and Gerald Rama of Devon, PA; son, Raymond and Susan Crouse of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren, Christopher Bianchi, Gerald Rama, Jr., Laura Rama, Leah Klein, Lynda Crouse, Lana Crouse, Nathaniel Crouse; and his special companion, Barney II, his Golden Retriever.