Obituary of Alta Ruth Crowson

Alta Ruth Young Crowson passed away August 19, 2021 at the age of 84. The only child of Letha (Rowland) and Anderson Young, Alta Ruth was born October 13, 1936 in Carlsbad, New Mexico. She spent her early years on the family farm in Hope, NM, graduated from Hope High School in 1954, and received her BS degree from Abilene Christian University in 1958. On December 19, 1957 she married Herbert (Bert) Crowson, Jr. She loved two-year-olds and spent many years nurturing them in recreation and church settings. She worked with the City of Austin's Tiny Tot program at Hancock Recreation Center for 10 years and taught at the Early Learning Center, a child development school of University Avenue Church of Christ in Austin for 19 years, also serving as Assistant Director for the ELC. She was a member of University Avenue Church for 53 years, where she served in the Children's, Women's, Compassionate Care ministries, and Micah 6 food pantry. She enjoyed growing things. When she needed relief from stress she dug in the garden. Having grown up in NM where the sun nearly always shone, during long stretches of cloudy weather she would announce, "I need to sit in a sunny flower garden." Music was always a joy in her life. Her father was a leader in the little church where she grew up, and she learned to sing alto by sitting beside the minister's wife. In later years she especially loved the old songs that reminded her of the people in that church who had nurtured her walk of faith. She was equally gifted at the piano, majoring in music at college. The first time she heard Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto it became her favorite. From that time on, playing it made her spirits soar. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Herbert Crowson, Jr. (Bert). She is survived by her three daughters Patrice Hopkins and her husband Steve, Danette Mowery and husband Scott, Renee Burch and husband Bill; grandchildren Emily and Jonathan Hopkins; Austin, Daniel and wife Summer, Ruth, Samuel, and Joshua Mowery; and David and Kevin Lloyd; one great granddaughter Violet and great-grandson James. She is loved and dearly missed by her family and friends. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be shared at austinaindbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Crowson family.