Sarah Louise Adams Crabtree Kritzer, 100, of Columbus and formerly of Nashville passed from this life on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at 11:39 a.m. at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility.
Mrs. Kritzer was born on May 9, 1922, in Owen County, Indiana, the daughter of Paul Butler and Sarah J. Bond Adams. In 1940 she married Garvin Preston Crabtree, and he preceded her in death in 1959; in 1960 she then married Rex W. Kritzer, who preceded her in death in 2001.
Mrs. Kritzer served as a jail matron in Brown County for eleven years, while serving she and her family lived in the jail. Her duties as jail matron included being in charge of the female prisoner intake, book work, and preparing the meals for the inmates. Upon her completion as matron, she went about her duties as a farmer’s wife which included taking care of all the farm management. She was a member of the Nashville Christian Church which was started by her grandfather John Bond. She later became a founding member of New Life Community Church. She was also a member of The Order of the Eastern Star, Brown County Historical Society, and the Brown County Garden Club. Some of her greatest joys were traveling with family and friends. She enjoyed playing cards, gardening, and collecting Brown County Art.
Survivors include her children, Larry Crabtree of Bloomington, Dan (Jennifer) Crabtree of Whiteland, Sheila Jane (Gary) Oliver of Nashville, Steve Crabtree of Nashville; step-children, Evelyn (Darrel) Kent of Nashville, Sylvia (Tom) Valor of Florida, Mark (Carolyn) Kritzer of Nashville, Steven (Marilyn) Kritzer of Bloomington; son-in-law, John Asbury of Greenwood; grandchildren, Larry Preston Crabtree, Robin Pugh, Ben Crabtree, Brian Crabtree, Matt Crabtree, Ryan Oliver, Jannaka Oliver, Seth Asbury, Rett Asbury, Joel Asbury, Erin Gilman, Clint Crabtree, Eric Kritzer, and Greg Kritzer; 14 step-grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; daughter, Deborah Ann Asbury; daughter-in-law, Kay Crabtree; sister, Vernita Pogue Hutton; brother, Paul E. Adams; and a grandson, Kyle Crabtree.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 19 at Greenlawn Cemetery in Nashville with Pastor Shan Rutherford officiating.
Services have been entrusted to Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home.
In memory of Mrs. Kritzer memorial contributions may be given through the funeral home to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the Kritzer family at barkesweaverglick.com.
