In Memory Of
Gladys Ellen Crowder
1940
2023
Gladys Ellen Crowder
December 12, 1940 — May 31, 2023
Gladys Ellen Crowder (Howe) passed away on May 31st, 2023, at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, NY, following several emergency surgeries that were too great a burden for her body and spirit.
Gladys was born on December 12th, 1940, to Reverend Barnard Howe and Kathryn Howe (Johnson) in Dunkirk, NY. She attended several schools in Western NY and graduated in 1959 from Westfield Central High School. In 1963 she obtained her BA in History from Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. She married Paul D. Crowder in 1963 in Chautauqua, NY, and began teaching English in Elyria High School until the birth of her first daughter in 1967. Gladys was the primary caregiver for her two daughters until 1974, when she worked as a Recreation Therapist at Arnold Gregory Hospital's Nursing Home Unit in Albion, NY. She also was employed as a caseworker for the ARC in Batavia, NY and as a counselor at Planned Parenthood in Albion, NY, and volunteered as a peer counselor at a community counseling center in Albion, NY. In 1980, Gladys moved with her family to Delmar, NY. Gladys and Paul ended their marriage in 1985, remaining friends until Paul's death in 2003. She worked as a caseworker for the ARC in Albany, NY, and as a Social Work Assistant for Albany Medical Center. Her final employment was as a caseworker for Albany County DSS, until her retirement in 2002.
Gladys was an active member of the church choirs at Trinity United Methodist Church in Albany as well as the First Presbyterian Church in Albany, where she also served as Elder, Chair of Administration, and Clerk of Session.
Gladys enjoyed her time with the "Soup Group", a group of friends that gathered for a monthly rotating dinner and a summer lake retreat. First Presbyterian Church choir members fondly remember the weekly "Clubhouse" gatherings at her home after rehearsal, and Sunday brunches at Stuyvesant Plaza, both last held in 2019.
She is survived by her husband, J. Timothy O'Toole (m. 1998); her daughter, Kathryn J. Wright (Crowder); granddaughters: Megan E. Wright and Maya F. Wright; sisters: Grace K. White and Martha Howe-Suker; brother-in-law, Douglas Suker; niece, Stephanie Walsh (Harrah); nephew, Timothy Howe; great nieces: Keara Walsh, Cassidy Walsh, Kathryn Howe, and Julia Howe; great nephew, Jason Howe, and stepsons: Jason O'Toole and C. Adam O'Toole. She is predeceased by her parents, and her younger daughter, Allyson M. Crowder (d. 1980).
A memorial service is planned for August 19th at 10:30am, at First Presbyterian Church, 362 State Street, Albany, NY 12210.
In lieu of flowers, Gladys' family requests memorial donations be made to Equinox Domestic Violence Services, 500 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206. Equinox-Honor and Memorial Gifts (equinoxinc.org)
To share a memory of Gladys or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
Gladys was born on December 12th, 1940, to Reverend Barnard Howe and Kathryn Howe (Johnson) in Dunkirk, NY. She attended several schools in Western NY and graduated in 1959 from Westfield Central High School. In 1963 she obtained her BA in History from Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. She married Paul D. Crowder in 1963 in Chautauqua, NY, and began teaching English in Elyria High School until the birth of her first daughter in 1967. Gladys was the primary caregiver for her two daughters until 1974, when she worked as a Recreation Therapist at Arnold Gregory Hospital's Nursing Home Unit in Albion, NY. She also was employed as a caseworker for the ARC in Batavia, NY and as a counselor at Planned Parenthood in Albion, NY, and volunteered as a peer counselor at a community counseling center in Albion, NY. In 1980, Gladys moved with her family to Delmar, NY. Gladys and Paul ended their marriage in 1985, remaining friends until Paul's death in 2003. She worked as a caseworker for the ARC in Albany, NY, and as a Social Work Assistant for Albany Medical Center. Her final employment was as a caseworker for Albany County DSS, until her retirement in 2002.
Gladys was an active member of the church choirs at Trinity United Methodist Church in Albany as well as the First Presbyterian Church in Albany, where she also served as Elder, Chair of Administration, and Clerk of Session.
Gladys enjoyed her time with the "Soup Group", a group of friends that gathered for a monthly rotating dinner and a summer lake retreat. First Presbyterian Church choir members fondly remember the weekly "Clubhouse" gatherings at her home after rehearsal, and Sunday brunches at Stuyvesant Plaza, both last held in 2019.
She is survived by her husband, J. Timothy O'Toole (m. 1998); her daughter, Kathryn J. Wright (Crowder); granddaughters: Megan E. Wright and Maya F. Wright; sisters: Grace K. White and Martha Howe-Suker; brother-in-law, Douglas Suker; niece, Stephanie Walsh (Harrah); nephew, Timothy Howe; great nieces: Keara Walsh, Cassidy Walsh, Kathryn Howe, and Julia Howe; great nephew, Jason Howe, and stepsons: Jason O'Toole and C. Adam O'Toole. She is predeceased by her parents, and her younger daughter, Allyson M. Crowder (d. 1980).
A memorial service is planned for August 19th at 10:30am, at First Presbyterian Church, 362 State Street, Albany, NY 12210.
In lieu of flowers, Gladys' family requests memorial donations be made to Equinox Domestic Violence Services, 500 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206. Equinox-Honor and Memorial Gifts (equinoxinc.org)
To share a memory of Gladys or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gladys Ellen Crowder, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Memorial Service
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Starts at 10:30 am (Eastern time)
First Presbyterian Church
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