Vance Lee Crouse

Dr. Vance L. Crouse, retired Air Force Colonel and retired MUSC maxillofacial surgeon faculty member, passed from this life at his home on James Island to be in his eternal home with The Lord Tuesday afternoon, February 3, surrounded by friends and loved ones. His funeral service will be held Friday, February 6, 2015 in Ashley River Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m. Interment, Monday, February 9, 2015 in Fort Jackson Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. with military honors. The family will receive friends Thursday, February 5, 2015 in J.HENRY STUHR INC., WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
At age 89 he typed on his iMac an 89 page single spaced recollection of his life that led to a two hour interview recorded by Charleston's Citadel graduate program that was entered in the Library of Congress.
He was born August 21, 1921 on a poor rural farm in Henderson, Tennessee, the son of Lee Vender and Eunice Irene Crouse. His mother, a teacher, died when he was 11; his only sibling Deurelle, a sister, was 15. Before she died, Eunice Irene home schooled her children and taught them the value of an education and faith in Jesus Christ that sustained them throughout their lives. He entered the Army Air Corps at age 21 to fight in WW II, graduating from Yale Officer Candidate School as an Aviation Cadet with the rank of 2nd Lt. For the next 29 years he served his country in Burma, India, China, Japan, Germany, and Korea. He believes his greatest victory was marrying the love of his life, Helen, May 19, 1946 and they had a very blessed life raising their son Van and daughter Elaine while traveling as much as possible to countries around the world. They settled down in Charleston, South Carolina in 1968 where he joined the faculty at MUSC with his skills as a maxillofacial surgeon, building their dream home on James Island and serving their Lord as much as possible with the body of Christ at Ashley River Baptist Church.
He is survived by his son, Vance L. Crouse, Jr; his daughter, Carolyn Elaine Jarrett, son- in- law Steve Jarrett, grandsons David (wife Tayelor), Andrew (wife Melissa) and Paul (wife Jessica ) Jarett, and great-granddaughter, Audrina Jarrett.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800; Friends of Bonnie Doone, In care of George L. Rauton, 2 Sussex Road, Charleston, SC 29407; or Ashley River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407.