Robert Le Forest Crouch died July 19, 2002.

He was born Nov. 23, 1933, in Portland, Ore., to Dale and Gladys Crouch, and attended grade and high school in Portland. After high school he served in the Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict.

He married Arlene Crowser July 21, 1956, and they lived in Roseburg, Ore. They moved to Whidbey Island in 1973. In 1976 he started his own business, Bob’s Appliance Center, in Langley.

Mr. Crouch was a very innovative person and could always find a way of improving things. He loved his family, God, friends, his cat, animals, music, gardening, birdwatching, woodworking, fishing, humor, his country, and being of help to anyone who was in need.

He was preceded in death by a son, Phillip Crouch.

Mr. Crouch is survived by his wife of 46 years, Arlene Crouch of Langley; a son, Robert Crouch Jr., Langley; two daughters, Aline Baker and husband Ron of Langley, and Alison Tabach of Langley; five grandchildren, Phil Baker, Jon Baker, Kristin Crouch, Erin Crouch and Payton Tabach, all of Whidbey Island; two brothers, Vernon Crouch and wife Barbara of La Grande, Ore., and Larry Crowser of Portland, Ore.; a sister, Maxine Daugherty of Roseburg, Ore.; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and aunts in Oregon.

His spirit remains with his family and friends.

A gathering of friends to honor Mr. Crouch’s life will be held July 27 at 5 p.m. at Deer Lagoon Lodge.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to The Friends of Jose Carreras International Leukemia Foundation at The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, P. O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024.