William Ellsworth (Bill) Cromer died Thursday, January 10, 2013. He was born July 1, 1916 in Findlay, Ohio, the son of H. Fred and Alpha Radebaugh Cromer. He graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in 1938and began his career at the General Electric Co. in finance and accounting,was a member of the traveling auditor staff and a financial manager in the Jet Engine Div. After 21 years he left G.E. for financial officer positions with Kaman Corp. and the East Ohio Gas Co.,a subsidiary of the Consolidated Natural Gas Co.Bill became the Controller and Chief Financial Officer for the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America in 1969, retired to Flat Rock, NCIn 1982 and for the last (ten) years lived at Tryon Estates in Columbus, NC.Bill loved sports, music, the theatre and he loved to sing. He was the center on the Miami Univ. basketball team and sang in the Miami Glee Club.He sang for over 70 years in church choirs, was a member of barbershop choruses,the Cincinnati Orpheus Society, and sang with the Hendersonville Chorale and the Carolina Chamber Singers.He was the valedictorian of his Findlay High School class of 1934, Treasurer and thenVice President of his Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, President of the Miami senior class, and a member of Phi Eta Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa, Delta Sigma Pi andBeta Alpha Psi honorary societies. He was also President and a member of the Miami Alumni Association Board.Bill was President of the Raritan Valley Chamber of Commerce inNew Jersey, Vice President of the Rocky River, OH. Kiwanis Club andof the downtown Kiwanis Club of Cincinnati, Chairman of the Civitan Foundationof Hendersonville and President of the Cincinnati chapter of the GE Elfun Society.He was listed in Who's Who in America and was a member of the SecondWind Hall of Fame, having served as Treasurer of HistoricFlat Rock, a member of the Hendersonville Symphony Board and of theAdvisory Board of Brevard Music Center.In addition to choir singing he was a trustee and deacon of several churches including the Congregational Church of Tryon where he is a member andthe First Congregational Church of Hendersonville where he is an associate member.Bill was predeceased by Betty Anne Schiewetz Cromer whom he met at Miami while she was a freshman and he a senior. They were married December 28, 1940and Betty returned for her final semester at Miami, graduating in 1941.His career relocated his family numerous times in twelve cities in six statesbefore retiring to Flat Rock, NC with Betty handling the moves including re-schoolingthe children. They had three children. William E., Jr. (Lucia) of Germantown, TN,Carol Cromer Anson (now deceased) of Lithopolis, OH, and Kenneth Richard ofGreensboro, GA. They have five grandchildren, Julie Cromer Young (Alan),Hollen Cromer Mitchell (Lance), Katherine Cromer Brock (Bradley), Peter R. Anson (Emily), Andrew F. Anson (Meghan), and four great grandchild, Liana Anson, Levi Anson, Jack Anson, and Will Young.A memorial service will be held at a later date.Memorials may be made to the Congregational Church, PO Box 1367,Tryon NC 28782, the First Congregational Church, 1735 Fifth Ave. W, Hendersonville, NC 28739, the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, 538 N. Main St., Hendersonville NC 28792, or the Miami University Endowment Fund, 725 E. Chestnut St, Oxford, OH 45056.
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