Norman — Dorothy Elizabeth Crum, World War II veteran, longtime Norman resident and wife of the late Carvel Leland Crum, died March 2, 2010, in Beaverton, Ore. She was 93.
Mrs. Crum suffered a stroke on March 1 and remained at home, in the care of Marina Morar, Dr. Lara Garrett and hospice chaplain Jill Johnson, until her death the next day.
Mrs. Crum was born April 16, 1916, in Kingsville, Md., to Estella J. and Harry S. Ward.
She attended school through ninth grade, then trained as a beautician in Baltimore.
Mrs. Crum joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps on March 9, 1943. After the WAAC was converted to the Women’s Army Corps, becoming part of the regular Army, Mrs. Crum enlisted on Sept. 1, 1943, in Baltimore.
She departed the United States on June 29, 1944, from Norfolk, Va., aboard the troop transport USS Gen. A.E. Anderson, arriving in Bombay on Aug. 7. Mrs. Crum continued on to Calcutta, where she served as a cook, attaining the rank of sergeant, at Hastings Air Base, headquarters of the U.S. Army Air Force in the China-Burma-India theater.
Mrs. Crum spoke fondly on her service in India, particularly of early morning horseback rides into the mountains to take in the sunrise and visiting the Taj Mahal.
Mrs. Crum returned to the United States on Nov. 4, 1945, after 16 months overseas, and left the service as part of the general demobilization of troops following the war.
She married Mr. Crum, also a WWII veteran, on July 4, 1949, in Baltimore, where Mr. Crum worked for The Baugh and Sons Co. The couple settled in Timonium, Md., and had one son, William. Mrs. Crum returned to work as a beautician.
After Mr. Crum transferred to Oklahoma City in 1966 to work for Kerr-McGee Corp., the family settled in Norman, where Mrs. Crum became a homemaker.
At St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church, Mrs. Crum was involved in a variety of activities, including Boy Scout Troop 225.
She was an avid reader and Reader’s Digest Condensed Books were a fixture in her home. She enjoyed playing bridge, especially with Alma Burkett, Donna Brown and Helen Cooper in their weekly Monday night club.
Mrs. Crum later enjoyed the companionship of friends at the Norman Senior Citizens Center, where she crafted ceramics.
Her volunteer activities included working at polling places on election days.
In declining health, particularly because of chronic dizziness, she spent her later years in the care of Mrs. Morar in her adult foster care home in Beaverton.
Survivors include her son and his wife, Wilda, and grandsons Jared and Spencer.
A funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 19, at St. Stephen’s, 1801 W. Brooks St. Interment will be at IOOF Cemetery in Norman.
Submitted by family
