Obituary of Fred J.R. Croft

J.R. Croft, 95, was born November 13, 1926 in Whitney Point, NY and passed away peacefully on May 20th, 2022. He lived most of his life in Glen Aubrey, only a short distance from the farmhouse he grew up in. He graduated from Whitney Point H.S. where he was the captain of his basketball team and an accomplished gymnast. He later served on the Whitney Point school board. Friends and family knew him as Fred, J.R., J, Jake, Freddie or later on Lucky. He wasn't much for titles but he was most proud of Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa. He was a man of many accomplishments and approached his life with humor and quick wit. He bought his first farm at 16, he flew planes, raced cars and was an avid dancer. J.R. was in the first graduating class of Broome Tech with an associate's degree in electrical engineering. He worked at IBM for a short while and then became a partner with his father on the Croft Dairy Farm. He never looked back. J.R. loved farming. He also loved the Lord and served him as a deacon, a greeter and by mowing the church lawn. In his later years he visited shut-ins. He walked the mall every day and drove his car every chance he could. J.R.'s wife Evelyn passed away 4 years ago. He always talked about how much he missed her. They took many trips together and enjoyed visiting friends and meeting for coffee and bible studies. J.R. often said, "I've had a good life." And he did. J.R. was preceded in death by his beloved wife Evelyn Croft July, 2018, his father and Mother, Fred and Isabel Croft, his sister Betty Lou and her husband (whom he loved dearly) Harold Brown, his sister-in-law Audrey Lawton, granddaughter Tara Lynn Beck and his nephew Jeff Brown. He is survived by 3 children and their spouses; Linda (Keith) Beck, Gary (Patricia) Croft, and Carolyn (Paul) Long. A brother-in-law Neil Lawton, and nieces Heather Wunders, Loretta Meister and Christy Fowlston. 8 Grandchildren; Tim, Rachel, Andrew & Rebecca Croft, Ariana Lewandowski, Samuel Beck, Brittany & Marley Long. 6 Great Grandchildren Daniel, Jackson, Henry (Hank) & Sophia Croft, Arabella Ruff and Ariyan Dashti. Memorial services will be held Friday, June 3rd at 6 PM promptly at the Coleman and Daniels Funeral Home, 300 East Main St. Endicott. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers the family asks you to make donations to J.R.'s favorite charities; Samaritan's Purse, St. Jude's Children's Hospital and Youth for Christ or a charity of your choosing.