Obituaries 9/11/2024
John Charles Crutcher
John Charles Crutcher passed away on August 20, 2024, in Nashua, New Hampshire, at the age of 74. He adored literature, sports, music, and travel, but his family was the light of his life. John was also a dedicated political and community activist with great hope for the country’s future.
John was born on October 7, 1949, to William and Joana (Barker) Crutcher in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Growing up, he was very involved in the church and faith became a cornerstone of his life.
A voracious reader, John enjoyed a career in publishing that spanned decades, marketing books to independent bookstores and major chains across the country. He also owned a bookstore in Westchester County, NY, and co-founded Bloomberg’s Book Group. Career and family provided John with the opportunity to live in many regions, nationally and internationally. His last two decades were spent in New Jersey, the United Kingdom, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
In retirement, John dedicated his time to family and community. He coached his two children’s soccer teams and volunteered at their schools, his churches, and several social service agencies supporting low-income families, the hungry, addicted, and unhoused. In Princeton, he served on the Board of Crawford House and was a Deacon at Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church. John helped at his children’s schools and staffed a UK phone bank focused on recovery. Most recently, John was active with the United Way of Greater Nashua, providing literacy education for children and adults, and volunteering at food and school supply drives.
John was predeceased by his parents William and Joana, and sister-in-law Autumn (Goodwin) Crutcher. He is survived by his wife Beth (Stone) Crutcher; children Zachary (Kathryn Franz) and Kira Crutcher; siblings Lynne (Gary) Bird, Wynne Foote, and Lee Crutcher, as well as extended family and friends he dearly loved.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 22, in the Chapel at Trinity Episcopal Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ, with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to United Way, The Humane Society, Common Cause, or a charity that represents what John meant to you.
———
George Edmund Wilson
George Wilson, 93, of Monroe Township, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday September 4 with family by his side. George was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Wilson, and is survived by his children, Brett and Ward Wilson, and grandchildren, Emily and Kori Bloom.
George was born in Minneapolis, MN, on October 30, 1930 to Edmund and Lillian Wilson. He graduated from Shattuck School in 1948 and served in the U.S. Air Force (1952-54) at Shepherd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX, where his daughter was born. He and several others formed a flying club and he enjoyed flying the small planes the club purchased — flying across country to Florida and Minnesota with his wife and small daughter.
After his service, he worked for Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati, OH, where his son was born. Following a move to New Jersey, he worked the remainder of his career in advertising, commuting from Princeton to New York City. After “retiring” he owned one of the 10 largest record auctions in the world — specializing in jazz 78s from the ’20s,’30s, and ’40s. At one time his personal collection topped 20,000 records.
He and Carolyn lived in Princeton until her death in 2017. Since then he lived an active life at Rossmoor, playing golf, bocce ball, participating in plays, swimming, and attending discussion groups. He always had a smile, a friendly word, and a joke ready.
A memorial celebration will be held at the Rossmoor Meeting House in Monroe Township on Wednesday September 11 at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to one of George’s favorite groups, New Jersey Jazz Society, online at njjs.org/donate or by check mailed to: New Jersey Jazz Society / Mike Kats, Treasurer, 382 Springfield Avenue, Suite 217, Summit, NJ 07091.
———
Jean Friel Hultgren
Jean Friel Hultgren, a former resident of Lawrenceville, NJ, passed away on September 3, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
She was born on December 27, 1939, in Greenville, Alabama, and raised in Bay Minette, Alabama. Jean graduated from Baldwin County High School in 1958, where she was elected Homecoming Queen. She then attended Auburn University, where she was a proud member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Beta Omega chapter and became a graduate in 1962.
In keeping with Jean’s zest for life and social flair, she became a flight attendant where she enjoyed traveling the world with Trans World Airlines. Jean was one of the few commercial flight attendants that flew in and out of Vietnam during the war. Jean was an enthusiastic history buff, known for sending numerous newspaper articles to those she loved. She was active in several organizations including TWA Clipped Wings, The Princeton Battlefield Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Friends of Lafayette, and the Princeton United Methodist Church.Many who knew her recall a true Southern lady who took enormous pride in her country, her children, and her grandchildren.
She was pre-deceased by her parents, William E. Friel and Lois Bailey Friel and of Bay Minette, and by her ex-husband, James Keith Hultgren of Orange Beach, Alabama. Jean is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Talley Hultgren; granddaughter Virginia Jane Hultgren; her daughter and son-in-law Ryan and Jennifer Spradley; and grandchildren Madison and Noah Spradley all of Atlanta. She is also survived by her sisters Nancy Huey of Atlanta, and Ercel Donehoo of Gainesville, Georgia, and several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
A graveside service for immediate family was held on Saturday, September 7 at 1 p.m. CST in Opelika, Alabama. A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 12 at noon in the chapel at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, for friends and extended family. Immediately following the service, a celebration of life for friends and family will be held at The Dupont Commons clubhouse, 1650 Dupont Commons Drive, Atlanta, GA 30318.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in her name to Westside Table (westsidetable.org/give) via Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.
H.M. Patterson & Son–Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, (404) 261-3510.
———
John Edward von Oehsen
John Edward von Oehsen, a loving son and brother, passed away at the age of 22 on August 26, 2024. John was a selfless, compassionate, and intelligent soul with a big heart, always offering his time and energy to those in need. He was loved by all who were blessed to know him.
John was born in Princeton, NJ, and resided with his family in Hopewell. He attended the Hopewell Valley School District from kindergarten through his graduation in 2020. After attending Lewis and Clark College his freshman year, he transferred to Rutgers University to be closer to his family and friends. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in May of 2024 with a degree in sociology and a minor in statistics. He was then accepted to Rutgers esteemed urban development graduate program at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. John gave his time to many worthwhile causes and spent a summer of service in 2023 interning at Isles, a community development and environmental organization based in Trenton. Most recently, he interned at Rutgers University Institutional Planning and Operations Division.
John especially loved spending time with family and friends near and far. Some of his fondest memories came from family trips to the cabin in Bethel, Vermont. He enjoyed hanging out with his friends — watching movies, listening to music, playing games — and spending time with his loving boyfriend Daniel Simpson.
He is predeceased by his paternal grandfather William von Oehsen and maternal grandmother Dorothy Klesitz. He is survived by his mother and father, Dawn and Stewart von Oehsen, and his sisters Lillian (21) and Anna “Casey” von Oehsen (18). His paternal grandmother Barbara von Oehsen and his uncles, Bill, Barr, and Tom von Oehsen, and their families. John is also survived by his maternal grandmother Pamela Luersen, grandfather Richard Domagalski and their spouses, his Aunt Amy and her family. Additionally, he is survived by a large family of aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends.
Funeral services were held September 1, 2024 in Trinity Church in Princeton, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s honor to HomeFront NJ, a local organization where John volunteered his time to those in need.
John will forever be missed and held in the hearts of his loved ones as he now rests in peace.
———
Curtis Edward Spalding
Curtis Edward Spalding, a longtime resident of the Princeton area, passed away on August 18, 2024, at the age of 94.
Curt was born on October 16, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois, three days before Black Friday. Growing up in Depression-era Chicago was an early lesson in the value of hard work. He graduated from Northwestern University where he met his first wife, Elenore Iverson Spalding, to whom he was married to for over 50 years. At Northwestern, Curt was a competitive varsity diver and was the first coach for the women’s synchronized swimming team.
Curt joined the military after college, serving honorably in military intelligence during the Korean War. Curt joined Mobil Oil Corporation in 1953, holding many human resources and employee benefits positions until his retirement in 1988. He raised his family in the Princeton area, but his career allowed the Spaldings to see the world. The family was also based in in Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; and London, England throughout his career.
Curt retired to Bucks County and was a member of the Springdale Golf Club. He spent his later years in Vero Beach, Florida. After Elenore passed away, Curt remarried Ruth Coleman Spalding, spending his later years in her loving company. He was an avid golfer, amateur pilot, and student of American history.
Curt is predeceased by his father, Maurice, mother, Verna, first wife, Elenore, and second wife, Ruth. He is survived by his daughter, Susan Spalding and her husband, Eduardo Beruff; son, Keith Spalding; grandson, Holt Spalding; granddaughter, Rebecca Spalding and Rebecca’s husband, Alexander Plough, and their son Alfred Plough.
The family will be having a small family service to honor Curt’s memory.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made online to The Dementia Society of America.
Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.
———
Laurence “Jamie” James Peck
Laurence “Jamie” James Peck, 58 of Princeton, NJ, died on September 5, at Penn Medicine Plainsboro Hospital. Born in Queens, NY, in 1965, Jamie spent much of his youth in Maine. He graduated from Bangor High and following a post-grad year at the Gunnery in Washington, Connecticut, went on to Hobart College where he played varsity hockey and majored in English, graduating in 1988.
Son of the late Russell Peck, Jamie is survived by his wife Liza (Wakefield) Peck; four children Griffin, Kirby, Sawyer, Merritt and her fiancé Kevin Halliday; his mother Elaine (Parker) Peck; two brothers Craig Peck (Kim Heyman), Jacob Peck (Ivanna); a sister-in-law and two brothers-in-law Wendy Davis and Steve Heaps, JB Wakefield; and parents-in-law Bill and Pam Wakefield. Also part of his family were his nieces and nephews: Edward, Aiden, and Amelia Peck, Dana Davis (Jason Yanowitz), Kylie Davis (Doug Shapiro), Will Davis, Emma and Owen Heaps, Drew, Gray, Tess and Will Wakefield.
Jamie spent his career in pharmaceutical marketing. He was a strategic thinker and had a solid knowledge and deep interest in the economics of and innovations in the healthcare field. He spent the past seven years at Indegene, most recently serving as Vice President, Commercial.
Jamie married Liza in 1991. Showing an early and independent streak, the couple spent their honeymoon working on a Habitat for Humanity building site in Louisiana. He and Liza raised their children in Princeton where Jamie coached a whole lot of youth hockey and, as a hockey dad, advised players, coaches, and referees from an almost respectful distance.
While Jamie spent most of his adult life in Princeton, Maine held a very special place in his heart. He loved being both on and in the water there: floating, boating, and fishing on sunny summer days and exploring the challenge of ice fishing in midwinter. He vacationed there with his family this summer.
Jamie’s family gathered to mourn his death earlier this week. The world seems a lot quieter and a bit darker without him in it.
Gifts to honor Jamie can be given to SAVE (savehomelessanimals.org/donate).
———
William Paul Krause
January 26, 1932 – September 7, 2024
William “Bill” Krause had an Illinois childhood on a working farm. Along with his siblings, he milked cows before riding a horse to a one-room schoolhouse three miles away.
When Bill was 14, his family moved to Point Pleasant, PA. He enrolled in Lawrenceville Prep, where, upon graduation, he won the Trustee’s Cup. He went to Yale University where he studied architecture. Before graduating, he signed with the Navy and served as a Marine pilot, flying aircraft onto carriers during the Korean War.
While completing his degree at Yale, he met Sylvette de Aldrey, a painting student at the Whitney School of Art in New Haven.
They married, and in 1960 settled in Princeton, raising three daughters and remaining there for the rest of their lives.
Bill began his career as an architect for TechBuilt, a new style of prefabricated building, then became a salesman for their first medical centers. On one of his sales trips, he met a doctor who was testing a system developed by Cornell students to “computerize” patient information. Intrigued, Bill bought the program, and started what became known as Systemedics. The company grew into a national firm which was eventually sold to Equifax.
Bill then became a consultant to American Express, traveling the world with his wife Sylvette.
After retiring from the corporate world, Bill partook in an assortment of entrepreneurial endeavors, which included an art gallery at 14 Nassau Street (Art Ventures), a lighting store in Lambertville, and various small manufacturing businesses. He was keenly interested in solar power energy, holding a few forums of its benefits at his solar home.
Bill was the consummate family man, supporting and encouraging his children in all their endeavors, a trait that carried forth to his grandchildren. His love of Sylvette was immeasurable — theirs was a true love story, which inspired him to write novels based on their lives. Forty summers of family trips to Block Island, where “King Codfish” ruled the tribe, has left indelible memories for the entire extended family. Bill loved people, and was interested in hearing their stories. His curiosity was infectious.
He eventually bought a 4-acre property just outside Princeton, designing a light-filled solar-powered home — one of the prides of his life — and where, last Saturday, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, he closed his eyes for the very last time.
He is survived by his wife, Sylvette, and their three daughters, Jessica Krause, Leslie Krause, and Georgiana (Troy) Sensing; grandchildren Nina (Matt) Palmer, Bianca Scherrei, Abigail (Tyler) Brautigam, Hannah (Michael) Batillo, Thomas Sensing; and four great-grandchildren.
Interment for Bill will be held on Friday, October 4, 2024 11:30 a.m. at Washington Crossing Cemetery, 830 Highland Road, Newtown, PA 18940. Family and friends who are joining, please arrive by 11:15 a.m. at the latest.