Luther Warren Crooker, North Pacific Union Conference treasurer, 1962–75, died April 26, 2007.
A native Northwesterner, Crooker was born in Missoula, Mont., the second of 11 siblings who survived to adulthood. He was educated in several schools in Western Oregon and Washington, graduating from Auburn Academy in 1938 and Walla Walla College in 1951 with a business degree. He was a logger, a carpenter and did cement work. During World War II, he served as a cook aboard an Army transport ship, making 39 trips between Seattle and Alaska.
During 1949, he married Rose Catherine O'Neil. They had two children, Ken and Karen.
After serving for two years as an IRS agent in Okanogan, Wash., he became the Oregon Conference assistant treasurer (1953–57), Upper Columbia Conference treasurer (1957–62), North Pacific Union Conference treasurer (1962–75) and retired as Atlantic Union Conference treasurer (1975–84).
Crooker loved being in the outdoors whether it was camping, backpacking, fishing, gardening or feeding the birds, squirrels and ducks. He jogged into his 60s and kept walking well into his 70s. Through his hobby of recycling cans, bottles and paper, he raised hundreds of dollars for the Sunnyside Church worthy-student fund.
He is survived by his wife, his two children and three siblings.
