Marie Eugena Purtlebaugh Crabtree

Marie Eugena Crabtree, 95, of Nashville, IN passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born July 14, 1917 at Dowell Hill in Bartholomew County, IN the daughter of the late Dallas William Webster Purtlebaugh and Inez Whittington Purtlebaugh.

Marie graduated from Central High School in Columbus, IN. She married in 1934, Lee D. Crabtree of Columbus, IN. She was very active in her life working throughout the years at Arvin Industries where she was known as “Rosie the Riveter”, Cummins Engines, Camp Atterbury, The Village Candle Shop and Owner of The Gables Café. During her lifetime she lived in Nashville, IN, San Angelo, TX, Fairbanks, AK, Columbus, GA, and Albuquerque, NM. She enjoyed traveling and travelled to many places around the world like England, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy to name a few. She loved to see the world.

Marie was a member of the Eastern Star, she published a cook book, and she accepted the Medal of Honor for her husband by the government of France, who had assisted the French resistance during World War II. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

Marie is survived by her two children, Kay Crabtree Duff Hedrick and Janet (Richard) Crabtree Sutton; her three grandchildren, Jim (Donna) Duff, Lydia (Rob) Schleicher, and Liana Sutton; granddaughter-in-law, Robin Duff Rose; ten great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Lee D. Crabtree; two grandchildren, Jennylee Duff and Timothy Duff; and by her brothers and sisters, Evelyn, Bonnie, Robert, Vern, and Donald.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 11, 2013 at Garland Brook Cemetery in Columbus, IN. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, March 10, 2013 at Bond-Mitchell Funeral Home in Nashville, IN.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Brown County Mother’s Cupboard Community Kitchen, 5306 State Road 135 N, Nashville, IN 47448, or to The Brown County TRIAD at 812-988-5606, or the Eli Duff Scholarship Fund.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.BondMitchellFuneralHome.com