Irvin H. "Doc" Cronin

Visitation will be Monday, April 01, 2024, from 11:00 a.m.-1:45 p.m. with services to be held at 2:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1301 Pinehave Drive, Clinton, MS 39056.

Irvin, known to all as "Doc" was born on July 29, 1929, as the firstborn child of Mamie Morris and Jessie Roscoe Cronin in Purvis, Mississippi.

If there has ever been a story of a legacy to be told, Doc is the main character of that book. Doc was born at at time in history where opportunity was hope and hope was opportunity. The countless lives he touched in 94 years are, truly, remarkable and almost unimaginable.

Irvin grew up as the family made their way from South Mississippi to Clinton as a young man. He was quite a scholar and athlete. He was "recruited" to play football at Clinton High School where he was a star quarterback, only to fall in love and marry his high school sweetheart, Dolores Gibson. They were Mr. & Miss Clinton High School in 1947. Upon graduating from high school Irvin and Dolores were married and remained so for 72 years, upon her passing away in 2019.

Irvin began his career as an accountant for the Standard Oil Company as a young father and husband. One of his children, Michael, became very ill at the age of two in the early 1950's. After exhausting all available medical answers and remedies, Irvin decided, and as he told many people, "If I have to become a physician to help my son, that is what I will do." That, he did. He did not come from a background of financial resources and going to college for pre-med and on to medical school seemed somewhat impossible. However, his drive and determination often made the seemingly impossible, possible. He worked part-time at Seale Lily Ice Cream, bagging popsicles. He worked part-time at Baptist Hospital in the Business Office. He even worked as a disc jockey for a local radio station to support his young family and attend Millsaps College. Which he did, nonetheless, on a music scholarship.

After graduating from Millsaps College, Irvin was accepted and entered the first class of medical school, starting the fall of 1956, at the newly built University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. He was, by that time, a father of four. He finished at UMMC in 1960, completing a year internship for United States Health Services at the Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia. Irvin brought his young family, of then five children, back to Mississippi where he began his medical career and became known to all his patients, friends, and family as "Doc."

"Doc" practiced family medicine at Van Winkle Medical Clinic, later known as Metro Medical for over fifty (50 ) years. One of his greatest joys in life was that he practiced medicine with his son, Dr. Ken Cronin, and they were the first "generation" to graduate from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

"Doc" was the plant physician for Delphi Packard in Clinton and then continued on in the same capacity at the General Motors plant in Brandon until he officially retired at the young age of Ninety (90).

He attempted to "retire" more than once. However, he and his patients never really subscribed to the theory of "Doc" hanging up his stethoscope. The stories of "Doc" treating patients are endless and justice could never be done in trying to choose certain stories to tell. Suffice all things to say, practicing medicine and caring for people were never work to "Doc." Those were only blessings in his life.

Only one love of Doc's was greater than the love he had for his cherished wife and the love of being a physician, and that love was for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. "Doc" was a dedicated and devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints his entire life, having been baptized at the age of eight (8) years old. The missionaries came through town on rare occasions. He waited all day on his 8th birthday because he was confident the Lord would send the missionaries through Purvis that very day. He waited and waited and shortly before midnight on his birthday the missionaries came to his home. He was, indeed, baptized on his 8th Birthday, just as he knew the Lord had planned. That is the story of Irvin H. "Doc" Cronin. A legacy of unrelentess faith.

Anyone that knew him knows that his name was synonymous with his faith and service to his fellow man and his Savior. He was called to serve as the clerk for the church when he was fourteen (14) years old. That calling was only the beginning of eight more decades of service to his Heavenly Father. The callings and positions he held were numerous. He served as a High Councilor, a Bishop, a Stake President, and the Stake Patriarch. He cared for every missionary that served in the Jackson area for a countless number of years, refusing payment of any kind from the "Lord's servants." He spent a lifetime giving selflessly in the church serving others as he served his Lord. He was a spiritual giant among his family, friends, and associates. The stories of his service could never be recounted or told in anything other than volumes of memories.

"Doc" was a man who will never be forgotten. Yet, he is a man who shall always be remembered through the hearts of all of those he touched. His only desire in this mortal life was to walk uprighteously before the Lord in service of others. He accomplished that in every area of his life, from the football field as a young man, to a stellar softball pitcher that traveled with his treasured team playing throughout the country, to a scholar, a physician, a faith leader, a husband, and father, a son, a brother, an uncle, a cousin, a friend, and in every other role he ever held. All he ever was or hoped to be in this life was a true Disciple of Christ. He, truly, fulfilled that mission on this earth. With confidence one could imagine his hearing "Well done thou good and faithful servant" as he entered the gates of Heaven. Irvin H. "Doc" Cronin lived a life on earth filled with honor and integrity.

"Doc" is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Helen Dolores Gibson Cronin; his sons, Kenneth Irvin Cronin and Michael Glenn Cronin; his granddaughter, Anna Claire Ray; his great-granddaughter, Victoria Christina Anderson; his parents, Mamie Morris and Jessie Roscoe Cronin; his brothers, John L. Cronin, Lawrence Wayne Cronin, Donald J. Cronin, and Ralph Cronin.

He is survived by his daughter-in-law, Edith Sue Patterson Cronin (late Kenneth Irvin Cronin) of Clinton, MS; son, George Paul "Pat" Cronin (Teresa) of Clinton, MS; daughter, Cathy Dolores Coughlin (John) of Brandon, MS; daughter, Carol Patricia Ray (Rob) of Eupora, MS; son, Jeffrey Howard Cronin of Colorado Springs, CO. His sister, Bonnie Barlow (late Edward Barlow) of Clinton, MS; brother, Jim Cronin (Cora) of Clinton, MS; and brother, Jerry Cronin (Mary Beth) of Hattiesburg, MS.

He is survived by 17 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Lakewood Funeral Home on Clinton Boulevard in Jackson, MS is in charge of arrangements.