John E. Crabtree

Marion, Va.

John E. Crabtree, age 81 passed away January 7, 2023 at Smyth County Community Hospital.

John Crabtree was a loving husband, dad, grandaddy/d-dady, and friend. He had his priorities lined up perfectly. He loved his Lord, his family, his country, community and served them all passionately. To his family, John was a hero, his grandchildren were blessed with a wonderful role model. He served in the United States Airforce with honor and in his community he was a behind the scences leader who just got it done with the local VFW, Civitan Club and in many civic and church groups. He was a man who placed the sense of integrity in the lives of many Boy Scouts over his 20 years, which served as a great outlet for his love of outdoors and nature. When his family and friends think back about his life, there were many activities, great differences made in many lives and the world was just better with, and because of John E. Crabtree.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Maude Crabtree; brothers, William Crabtree and Ira Crabtree, Jr.

John is survived by his wife of 58 years, Nina Crabtree of Marion, Va.; daughter, Shawnie “Tigger” Brown and husband, Robert, of Berryville, Va.; son, David Crabtree and wife, Angie, of Winston Salem, NC; brother, James Crabtree and wife, Carolyn of Glade Spring, Va.; grandchildren, Doctors Arialle Crabtree and wife, Tara Sutton, Kayla Hensley and husband, Jordan, Reilly Brown, Rachel Brown, Sophia Brown, and Seth Brown; two great-grandchildren, Raelynn Castaneda and Derby Castaneda; nephew, Brad Crabtree; niece, Rachel Cocke.

The family will receive friends, Thursday, January 12, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00  p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel. Private services will be held at Blackwell’s Chapel with full Military Rites conducted by Francis Marion VFW Post #4667 and the Air Force Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the local VFW Post #4667, P.O. Box 767, Marion, Va. 24354 and Marion Civitan Club, 237 East Main St., Marion, Va. 24354.

To share memories of John E. Crabtree, please visit www.seaverbrown.com. Care for John’s family has been entrusted to Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory, 237 East Main Street, Marion Va. 24354.