Jesse Lawrence Crossley

JESSE L. "LARRY" CROSSLEY, JR. September 22, 1922 ~ June 10, 2014 OH-IO Go Bucks! Jesse L. "Larry" Crossley, another of our nation's greatest generation, has gently passed from this life into the arms of his dear, sweet wife, Thelma, who passed Feb. 20, 2004. Larry's journey ended Tues. evening, June 10, 2014 at the Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver, WA. We know they are reunited once more. Larry was born in Duvall, OH on Sept. 22, 1922 to Jesse Sr. and Olive Crossley. He spent his formative years in Lancaster, OH, growing up with his older brother, Joe and five sisters, Wilma, Anne, Frances, Marie and Marlene. He graduated from Columbus East High School and attended the Ohio State University. Did we mention he was a Buckeye? Larry enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard when World War II began and was stationed in San Diego, CA and the Lake Ozette area on the Olympic Peninsula, beginning a lifelong love of Washington state and the Pacific NW. He was honorably discharged in November 1945. The biggest part of Larry's life was his love and devotion to his life partner, Thelma. While on leave in 1943 on Oct. 20th, he married Thelma Louise Fife in downtown Seattle, WA where Thelma had moved to work at Boeing to help the war effort and to be closer to Larry. After returning to Columbus he started in outside sales for Ohio Bell and won awards for Top Salesman of the year. In 1955, Larry was promoted and transferred to the Marketing Dept. in Cleveland Ohio. In 1959, he was again promoted and transferred to Dayton Ohio to start up a new program, "The National Yellow Pages" within the Bell System. Larry retired from Ohio Bell in 1978. He started his own very successful sales agency, Crossley and Assoc., retiring for good in 1989. After retirement, Larry enjoyed woodworking, bowling and traveling with Thel. He was a 32 degree Mason, an original AT&T pioneer, and member of the honorable order of Kentucky Colonels and the Lions Club. And did we mention he was a Buckeye? He and Thelma's house was party central for many, many Buckeye seasons. Jim will miss watching Saturday college football (the Ohio State University) with his dad. Larry didn't meet many people he didn't like and he leaves behind family, friends, and acquaintances that will miss his sense of humor, easy going, gentle demeanor, and devoted love, for the rest of our lives. Til we meet again. OH-IO Go Bucks! Larry and Thelma's sixty years of marriage was blessed with two children, James (Marjorie) Crossley of Vancouver, WA and Karen Crossley (Keith Piggot) of Oro Valley, AZ; grandchildren, Cullen (Heather) Shafner and Keri-Ann (Tony) Cole; great-grandchildren, Kyra, Katlyn, Keegan and Aidan; sisters, Marie Fowler York and Marlene Heinemann; sister-in-law, Peggy Fife; and special friend, Maybelle Connell. Internment with full military honors will be at Willamette National Cemetery on Oct. 6, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. Please sign his guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.

Jesse Lawrence Crossley

September 22, 1922 - June 10, 2014