Obituary of Phyllis Watkins Crabtree

Phyllis Watkins Crabtree 94, of State College, died on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at home. Born March 20, 1922, the daughter of Ruth Taylor Watkins and Ray Varner Watkins, she was a life-long resident of State College. She was a 1940 graduate of the State College High School, a graduate of Penn State with a B.S. in Medical Technology in 1943 and an M.S. in Child Development and Family Relations in 1968. In May, 1943, she married Allen B. Crabtree, who preceded her in death Sept. 21, 2006. She is survived by a brother, Donald James Watkins of State College; a daughter Cathy Wirick, a teacher in the International School in Izmir, Turkey, a son Philip of Seattle, WA; six granddaughters; and seven great-grandchildren. Teaching was her avocation and her vocation. She taught Kindergarten, Sunday School, Brownie Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scouts. The teaching she enjoyed the most was as the director of the Park Forest Day Nursery, a pre-school sponsored by the Park Forest Methodist Church. She taught at West Virginia University, during the first two Training Courses for the Head Start Program. Those who attended were to be the Head Start Teachers in their communities. At Penn State she taught the second class of Peace Corps volunteers who were on their way to the Philippines to teach English and Science. She taught briefly at Penn State in the College of Education. She also taught Senior Citizens; first in the Weight Training Course at the Senior Center on Fraser, then the AARP Safe Driving Course (with her husband) in various Senior Centers in Centre County. She served as a member of the Penn State Alumni Council. She was one of the founding members of the Diakonia Presbyterian Church and served as an elder in that new congregation. She worshipped there until the church was dissolved in 2003, and she became a member of the University Baptist and Brethern Church. There will be no public visitation. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Burial will be private in Philipsburg Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Park Forest Day Nursery, 1833 Park Forest Ave., State College, PA 16803, or to the Grace M. Henderson Graduate Scholarship, One Old Main, University Park, PA 16802. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.