Birth Date: 11/09/1948
Deceased Date: 03/17/2019
Unites States Army Master Sergeant Donald Earl Crocker, age 70, passed away peacefully at his home in Alexandria, VA, on Sunday, March 17, 2019. Born November 9, 1948, he was the eldest son of the late Richard H Crocker and Willa T Crocker of Pine Level, NC. Donald was a 1967 graduate of North Johnston High School. Upon being drafted into the US Army in 1969, he served in Vietnam, and continued serving this country he loved selflessly until 1988, when at Sergeant Major’s Academy, he suffered a severe medical condition that forced his early retirement from the military, gaining him an honorable discharge. During his time in the military, he served in many places, including Georgia, North Carolina, Germany, Korea, and Texas. He received many awards and medals marking his Army career achievements.
After his Army career, he excelled as Maintenance Director for NHP/AIMCO, Foxchase in Alexandria, for 22 years.
Donald was an avid outdoorsman, fisherman, and hunter, deer hunting being his greatest joy and delight. He also enjoyed reading, movies, traveling to different places on cruise ships, and he was a true gun and knife aficionado. Living in Alexandria, he looked forward to being home for family events, such as Christmas, his mother’s birthday, family reunions, and family cookouts. And he never missed a chance to eat at his favorite restaurant, Robin’s Nest, here in Selma.
As his health declined, 2 of his closest and most trusted friends, Russ Bannerman and Tdet Chotikul, would lunch with him daily in his home, this brought him much happiness and comfort, as he was unable to be out and about.
Surviving are his wife of 32 years, Jeong Sook Crocker; 2 daughters (from his previous marriage to Janice
Batten Crocker), Donna E Crocker Arnold (G. Scott), and Lynda C Crocker O’Neal (Mark); 6 grandchildren, Tyler Arnold (Molly), Austin Arnold (Sydney), Morgan Arnold, Connor Arnold, Cassidy Arnold, and Kylee O’Neal; and 1 great-granddaughter, Lacey Mae Arnold. He is also survived by his mother, Willa T Crocker; 4 siblings, George Allen Crocker (Carolyn), William Arthur Crocker (Wilma), Barbara Crocker Boyette (Ken), and Sylvia Crocker Henry (Sam); brother-in-law Hur Youngseak (Jeong Gumhee), many loving nieces and nephews.
A visitation and service will be held at Jefferson Funeral Chapel, 5755 Castlewellan Dr, Alexandria, VA.
Visitation on Sunday, March 24 from 4-8 PM, service on Monday, March 25 at 11 AM.
A local visitation will be held at Parrish Funeral Home on Saturday, April 6 from 2 – 4 PM. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will follow at a later date.
Flowers are much appreciated, or memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231 or https://www.heart.org/
Online condolences may be sent to the family at parrishfh.com.
