CHARLES L. CROUSE

Charles L. “Chuck” Crouse, of Dunbar, PA., passed away Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in Uniontown Hospital, Uniontown, PA, with his loving family surrounding him.

He was born August 20, 1940, in Chambersburg, PA., the son of George L. Crouse and Inez (Brown) Crouse.

He was a funeral director and the owner of Burhans-Crouse Funeral Home.

He graduated high school and immediately enlisted in the United States Navy, serving on the USS Tanner as a radio man (A) specializing in electronics and Morse code. He went ahead of troops in Vietnam to set up communication posts.

The Navy gave him the opportunity to see many parts of the world, including the Taj Mahal, Cairo, Italy, Iraq, Yemen, the Suez Canal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Jordan, the Gulf of Tonkin, and many more. He experienced different cultures and met many interesting people, including the Shah of Iran.

Upon leaving the Navy after six years as an RM2 (E-5), the CIA tried to recruit him, but he decided to attend Shippensburg University, where he was a member of the ACACIA Fraternity and obtained a degree in accounting.

He was the financial director of Fulton County Medical Center for several years until leaving to attend the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

After serving his apprenticeship and obtaining his license, he did trade work for other funeral homes throughout Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas, specializing in reconstructive work.

While working for a funeral home in West Elizabeth, he met Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis at the Pittsburgh Airport and escorted her and her family to a relative's visitation.

He bought Burhans Funeral Home in Dunbar, PA, on November 1, 1984, from the Burhans family.

Since then, he and his wife, Cathy, have worked side-by-side serving the local communities; now their family will proudly carry on Chuck's legacy by continuing his funeral business and serving the people he loved so much.

Chuck was on the board of the Dunbar Community Library, was a previous chairman and vice-chairman of the Dunbar Borough / Township Authority still serving as a member, was a committee member of Dunbar Community Fest, a lifetime member of the Dunbar Historical Society, a member of Dunbar Lions while they were active, belonged to Irishtown Sportsmen's Club, AMVETS Post 103 in Hopwood, PA, and a life member of American Legion Post 561, McConnellsburg, PA.

He belonged to the NFDA, PFDA, WPFDA, and SWPFDA.

He enjoyed traveling to the funeral director's conventions to keep updated on new trends in the funeral business.

He served as a deputy coroner of Fayette County for many years.

He wanted the local kids to have something to be involved with, so he always sponsored a team for the Dunbar Little League. He was a longtime supporter and sponsor of Dunbar Boy Scout Troop #180 and Cub Scouts, Pack #180. Additionally, he was the Charter for both the Scout Troop and the Cub Scout Pack. He was so proud of the many scouts who made Eagle. (Boy Scout Vespers will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday in the funeral home to honor Charles' support of the scouts over the years.)

He enjoyed Dunbar VFD's fish fry during Lent. He greatly appreciated the fire department's hard work.

He tried to help everyone that he could.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Cathy (Chesney) Crouse; daughters, Crystal Crouse, Christina (Ryan) Moore, Courtney (Anthony) Juliani; brother, Robert (Maureen) Crouse; sister-in-law, Bonnie Chesney; nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Crouse.

He will be missed by his friends at Mt. Pines Campground, where he thoroughly enjoyed spending time over the past 40 years.

Friends will be received from 12:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, 10:00  a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, and 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the hour of service at BURHANS-CROUSE Funeral Home, 28 Connellsville Street, Dunbar, with Pastor Lee Maley, Pastor Robert Wrachford, and Pastor Roger Yeager officiating.

Military Honors accorded by AMVETS Post 103, Hopwood.

Interment will be private.

We want to thank both the local community and those in the funeral business for their loving and kind support during the loss of our beloved husband and father. We are overwhelmed. A special thanks to Pastor Maley and Chris Hair, our angel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to Dunbar VFD, Morrell VFD, Dunbar Area Community Library, Boy Scout/Cub Scout Troop #180, or Fayette Friends of Animals.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.burhanscrousefuneralhome.com or on the funeral home's Facebook page, @burhanscrouse. 

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