Mr. Earle B. Crocker Jr.

HINSDALE - Earle B. Crocker, Jr., 85, passed away on December 18, 2017, at home with his family by his side. Born March 19, 1932 in Woonsocket, RI, he was the son of the late Earle B. Crocker, Sr. and Polly (Darling) Crocker. A 1949 graduate of Burrillville High School, he earned a B.A. in Physics from Bowdoin College in 1953, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1954. A recipient of various academic honors including a two-time James Bowdoin Scholar Award, Earle was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society at Bowdoin, and a member of the Eta Kappa Nu and Sigma Xu Honor Societies at MIT. Earle retired in 1993 from General Electric Ordnance Systems in Pittsfield, MA as a Lead Engineer after a 40-year career working on Inertial Guidance & Navigation and Fire Control systems. During his tenure at GE, he patented a “Quick Settling Gyrocompass” and was a volunteer in the GE Elfun Society. Always generous with his time, Earle served on many committees at First Baptist Church, including the Trustees. He was on the Boards of Directors for Ashmere Landing in Hinsdale and the Elmwood Resort Hotel in Wells, ME, and was a long-time volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Earle was always physically active, playing softball, hockey and golf as a young adult and beyond. His love of golf continued through this past summer, where he played as a member of Wachonah Country Club in Dalton. Earle’s favorite activities were spending time with his family and traveling with his wife, Ruth. Earle leaves his wife of 60 years, Ruth (Burgess) Crocker; his children Allyson (Crocker) Duval and her husband James, James Crocker and his wife Deborah, Virginia Crocker Timmins and her husband Mark, Jeffrey Crocker and his wife Rebecca; and eight grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE- A service in celebration of Earle’s life will be held at 2pm on January 7, 2017, at the First Baptist Church in Pittsfield. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Earle’s memory to “First Baptist Church Living Gifts for Growth Fund”, C/O First Baptist Church, 88 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Wellington Funeral Home, 220 East St., Pittsfield, MA 01201 is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Earle B. Crocker Jr.

March 19, 1932 - December 18, 2017