Peter John Crowl

Peter John Crowl, born on August 30, 1935 in Easton, PA and known to all as Pete, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 21, 2022, just days before his 87th birthday.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Barbara Brown Crowl, his three children Sara Burns of Celina, TX, Penny Wintermute and her husband Tim of Hampton, NJ, and Peter D. Crowl and his wife Erika of Pittstown, NJ. In addition, Peter was known as Grandad to the “sensational seven”: Corinne, Paige, Troy, Gillian, Shane, Tyler, and Theo. He enjoyed following their various pursuits and was truly interested in each one of their lives, from the oldest at twenty-six to the youngest little guy, just two years old.

Peter was predeceased by his mother Florence Stothoff Crowl Bomberger and his father James Edward Crowl, both of Flemington, NJ.

Pete was a lifelong resident of Hunterdon County. He was a member of the first graduating class of the brand new North Hunterdon Regional High School in 1952, and his interest in all things Hunterdon led to his membership in the Hunterdon County Historical Society. He was also a lifelong resident of his house in Franklin Township, first growing up there with his parents, then raising his family there after marrying Barb, and finally enjoying his retirement on the beautiful rolling hills. If you passed by the house, you would likely have seen him outside either doing yard work, splitting wood, painting a toolbox on the wall by the driveway, or more recently enjoying a cup of coffee with Barb on the porch. If you didn’t see him, he was probably “up top” working on his 1951 red Ford F100 pickup truck, one of his favorite hobbies.

He spent his career doing something well-chosen for an outdoorsman: like his father before him, he was a land surveyor, staking and recording the lines of many, many Hunterdon properties. His treks through the woods along property lines afforded him the opportunity to explore late 19th- and early 20th-century household dumping sites, and his resulting antique bottle collection is a colorful and impressive display of his search efforts.

Pete was also a big fan of the Jersey shore where he spent hours teaching his kids to body surf during epic family day trips to Point Pleasant. In retirement he traded in his surveying tripod for a metal detector, and headed back to the beach for more treasure hunting. It would be impossible to talk about Pete’s life without mentioning his athleticism and love of sports. Very few activities gave him more joy than playing infield for the Clinton Baptist Church softball team, except maybe Friday night pick-up basketball games in the softball off-season where he played full-court into his sixties. He was also an avid and devoted Yankees fan, and could often be heard complaining about the NY Giants.

Pete could be quietly stoic, but he could also hit you with his dry, witty humor. He sometimes preferred solitude, but he also enjoyed engaging conversation. He was a reader, a word-puzzler, a keen observer, and an appreciator of trees of all kinds. In recent years Pete rarely missed a Friday night in Clinton with Barb and friends, where he drank coffee, enjoyed live music, and marveled at the majestic sycamore tree along the river. He would definitely want everyone to know the acorn trick: throw a handful of acorns into a bucket of water–the ones that sink will grow into oak trees.

Pete was also, most important, a man of deep spiritual faith, and this was the driving force of his abundant life.

Arrangements and cremation services are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. Pete’s life will be celebrated with a private family tree-planting gathering.

Memorial contributions can be made in Pete’s name to the Hunterdon County Historical Society, 114 Main Street, Flemington, NJ, or to the Cherryville Baptist Church, 594 Cherryville Road, Flemington, NJ 08822, where Pete most recently worshiped as a member of the congregation.

For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com