In Loving Memory

Norma Leaver (1925-2010) was born June 17, 1925 on a farm outside of Kent City, Michigan. After graduation from high school in 1943, she worked as a secretary in county and state offices, 1943-1949. Norma and her husband, Jack were high school sweethearts, and married in September 1946. After their first child was born in January, 1950, Norma was a housewife, mother of five, grandmother of five, and great grandmother of four for rest of her life.

Norma had a very deep faith and gave much of her time to the church. Cooking dinners, teaching Sunday school, leading prayer groups, and actively serving in the church woman's society on the local, district, and conference level. She sang in the choir and was a camp counselor. Norma loved to cook, bake and entertain. She baked Swedish rye bread almost every week when her children were home, and their friends made sure to stop at their house after school on those days. Several loaves always ended up on the church's Sunday morning baked goods table for missions. They were a popular item. Norma called on people almost every week who were in a nursing home or confined at home, with conversation and some of her home made cookies. She kept in touch frequently by mail, with many young people who were in detention facilities, for various reasons, with notes of love, support, and encouragement. Many of them responded to her in appreciation.

Norma's friends remember her as a very active, friendly and giving person. She loved babies. Her children and grand children remember her for the nightly back rubs and going to sleep reading a book and singing songs. Her husband remembers her as a best friend, loving companion, always positive, always on the bright side, devoting herself to helping others and supporting Jack.



GRANT BINGEMAN SNYDER (1899–1990)
NJVGA/NJHA FOUNDER
Grant was born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada in 1899. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and his master’s degree from Michigan State University. In 1922, he began teaching at the former Massachusetts Agriculture College, now University of Massachusetts and later became the head of the Horticulture department. He taught at the University for 41 years, retiring in 1963. He lived to be 91 year old. He was a member of the Boston Market Growers Association and the American Association of Horticulture Science. Grant was the first recipient of the Kelsey Award from the Vegetable Growers Association of America and was an honorary FFA state farmer and received numerous awards from local and national organizations, including the National Canners Association and the USDA. He was the founder of NJVGA/NJHA and served as its chairman for 35 years. Later he served as Chairman Emeritus.



Earle P. Parsons (1924-2002) was President of the National Junior Vegetable Growers Association (1943-1944). He served as a national officer from 1942-1945. Earle was noted for his lifetime accomplishments in horticulture and farming in his beloved Massachusetts.




John L. Carney (1935–2001) grew up in the small town of Sykesville, PA, and after graduation, served in the US Army abroad in Germany. Upon returning home, he became a Marketer for Ideal Products, Inc. in Sykesville and continued working for the company for 42 years, receiving numerous “Salesman of the Year” awards. Some of his favorite past times were studying the Bible in preparation for teaching his Sunday School classes and enjoying the outdoors through hunting, fishing, gardening, traveling, and meeting new people.

“Jack”, to which he was commonly referred, supported his daughter, Connie F. Carney Bruner as she participated in the organization and worked her way through the officer ranks to become President of the Association, President of the Alumni, and Advisor to the officer team. After his death, his family remained involved in NJHA and Jack would be proud to know that today his grandchildren, Abigail Faith, Elizabeth Hope, and John Clark Bruner are active participants in the Young America and Photography contests.

The time he spent in NJHA from 1989-2001 was very rewarding for him. He especially enjoyed working with the young people of NJHA in pursuit of furthering the mission of the organization. He devoted many hours to NJHA helping his wife Carole prepare for conventions, giving monetary support to the Foundation and the Alumni Association, and promoting NJHA everywhere he went.

He will be remembered for his sense of humor, his devotion to the Lord and his family, and his kind heartedness. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.




Dr. Edwin A. Crosby "Ted" (1924-2010), a resident of Bethesda, Maryland since 1956, passed away on October 8, 2010, at the Montgomery Hospice Casey House, Rockville, Maryland. He was born on May 18, 1924, in Greenwich, Connecticut, son of the late Lincoln and Edith (Anderson) Crosby. He is survived by Betty Koepenick Crosby, his loving wife of 38 years; sister, Ann Hansen (Richard) of Hampton, New Hampshire; daughter, Lucia Brady of Gaithersburg, Maryland; sons, Mark Crosby (Gaye) of Ijamsville, Maryland, Richard Crosby (Elizabeth) of Millstadt, Illinois and Jonathan Crosby of Houston, Texas; step-daughters, Dale Koepenick (Jim) of Bethesda, Maryland, and Judy Mistretta (John) of Bethesda, Maryland; step-son, Glen Koepenick, Jr. (Kelly) of Charleston, South Carolina; 20 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, seven nieces and three nephews.

His first wife, Phyllis Barton Crosby died in 1971 after 25 years of marriage. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut and, after serving in the U.S. Navy as an Ensign during the later part of World War II, returned to his education and received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Horticulture and Plant Physiology from the University of California at Davis. Dr. Crosby taught as an Assistant Professor at Rutgers University in 1955, and then began service as an influential scientist promoting the United States agricultural industry through employment advocacy contributions with the National Canners Association, National Food Processors Association and later the National Horticultural Society.

He was a founder of the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology; past President and Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science; and long-time benefactor of the National Junior Horticultural Foundation which supports young men and women pursuing professional careers in the horticultural industry.

He was an active member of the Rockville Chapter of Civitan, Congressional Country Club, and Our Lady of Mercy Parish where he sang in the choir for over 30 years. He also provided transportation services to the elderly through his many years of faithful service to Senior Connection. He was an avid golfer and extensive world traveler.